LBABNING. 19 



thus enabling my cries for help to be heard 

 by one or two brave spirits who came gal- 

 lantly to my rescue. I have more than once 

 since then been caught in a treacherous bog 

 when following the chase, but never have 

 I found any difficulty in jumping from my 

 horse's back and helping him to struggle 

 gamely on to the dry land, for I have never 

 since ridden in a safety-stirrup, nor shall I 

 ever be likely to do so again. It may be said, 

 and probably with truth, that my servant had 

 neglected to clean it properly from day to 

 day, and that consequently the spring had got 

 rusted and refused to act. Such may possibly 

 have been the case, but might not the same 

 thing occur to anyone, or at any time ? 

 Servants are the same all over the world, and 

 yet you must either trust to them or spend 

 half your time overlooking them in the stable 

 and harness-room, which for a lady is neither 

 agreeable nor correct. 



There is nothing so pleasant to ride in as a 

 plain little racing- stirrup, from which the foot 

 is in an instant freed. I have not for a long 

 while back used anything else myself, nor has 



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