102 LADIES ON HORSEBACK. 



up the bank, and then galloped off over the 

 country. I recollect standing dismally by 

 that river, my pilot and two wreckers 

 scrapiiiL; the mud from me, and wringing my 

 drenched garments, whilst two or three more 

 were scouring the adjacent lands in search of 

 my truant steed. When, at length, he was 

 caught, I had eleven miles to ride to the place 

 at which I had left my trap, and was obHged 

 on arriving to change every atom of my 

 clothing, and wash off the superabundant mud 

 in a horse-bucket, kindly lent for the occasion. 

 The fall involved the loss of the run, the 

 loss of a habit, the loss of many odd shilhngs 

 to wreckers, the loss of my temper, a wound 

 from the boat-hook, and a heavy cold, the 

 result of immersion on a perishing winter 

 day. All these disasters were the punish- 

 ments consequent upon my impetuosity in 

 coming too close upon my leader ; therefore,, 

 having thus myself suffered, I warn you, from 

 woful experience, never to tread upon the 

 horse jumping in advance of you. Allowing, 

 even, that you do not cannon against him, 

 there is another casualty which may not 



