HUNTING. 137 



stopped and paid the price demanded ; but, 

 finding that the same thing occurred the 

 following week in a different locality, I 

 ascertained that it was a trick and declined to 

 be further hocussed. 



It is likewise a common thing for a man to ' 

 accost you, demanding a shilling, and declaring 

 that it was he who pulled your ladyship's 

 horse out of the ditch or quagmire on such 

 and such a day. You do not remember ever 

 having seen his face before ; but if you are a 

 hard-riding lady you will be so frequently 

 assisted out of difficulties that you cannot 

 undertake to say who nor how many may have 

 helped you unrewarded, and, being unwilling 

 that any should so suffer, you bestow the coin, 

 most likely in many instances, until you find 

 that your generosity has become known and 

 is consequently being traded upon. 



I remember one day, a couple of winters 

 ago, when returning from hunting, I lost my 

 way, and being desirous of speedily re-linding 

 it, I accosted a ragged being whom I saw 

 standing at a corner where four roads met, 

 and inquired of him the most direct route to 



