266 THE HUNTING FIELD 



each other when they tumble out hunting, and yet they 

 generahy fall much softer and dirtier, and consequently with 

 less chance of being hurt than the \ictim of a deliberate kick 

 off. " More dirt the less hurt " is a sound hunting axiom. In 

 this case, perhaps, there were more than the usual provocatives 

 of laughter. There was a little bumptious, over-dressed, cock- 

 sparrow-looking thing, pitching like a cannon ball into an 

 old cake-woman's bread-basket. Old Margery was floored — 

 regularly doubled up — her Banbury cakes were scattered all 

 over the road, while the concussion sent Strutt's head right 

 into his hat, knocking the crown clean out, and leaving him 

 with the rest of the hat over his face, looking just as if he were 

 going to have a game at blind man"s buff. 



Ye gods, what a rage he was in ! How he did stamp, and 

 splutter, and groan, and kick, and swear he was finished ! 

 The scene was ridiculous — too ridiculous to pursue, so we will 

 chop over to the Captain and his doings. 



The Captain's acute mind on hearing Job Tod's laconic 

 account of what had passed, saw there was a chance which, 

 industrious as he was, he determined not to throw away. 

 Accordingly he addressed the following letter to Mr. Milksop, 

 and sent it in a parcel by the next "up" coach to North- 

 ampton, where Mr. Alilksop had to sleep: — 



"(Private and Confidential.) 



" Dear Sir, — My groom having just reported to me that your servant 

 Strutt was very dissatisfied on the delivery of Lambkin, it has just occurred 

 to me that it is possible he may play some tricks with the horse so as to 

 prejudice you against him, and I therefore think it due to myself to give 

 you this hint on the subject. His dissatisfaction, I imagine, arises from 

 my not complying with a most absurd custom of tipping him because you 

 bought my horse, a system too much pursued, I am sorry to say, by parties 

 with lame or inferior horses, in order to get the servants' good word with 

 their masters. That is a system that has always been strenuously opposed 



by, 



" My dear Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, 



■• (iEORGE SHAIiCVHOUNDE, 

 •' To the Hon. Julius Milksop, " Market Harborough. 



" Northampton." 



