180 LADIES ON HOESEBACK. 



in his power, so health-giving and enUvening 

 a sport ? 



We have one very serious drawback to our 

 hunting in Ireland, and, indeed, in many 

 other places also — namely, wire fencing. I 

 saw something of a tragic incident occur last 

 season whilst hunting with the Meath hounds^ 

 We came up to an impassable fence, and all 

 made for the gate, which was open ; but the 

 owner of the land rushed out from his- 

 dwelhng, shut it in our faces, and insolently 

 refused to allow us to pass. Threats and 

 entreaties were alike vain. He called us every 

 name in the calendar, and consigned us all 

 to a very ugly place, in language which was 

 certainly not parliamentary. Many of the 

 field turned off and sought another way, but 

 two or three of the bold ones charged the 

 gate, and got over, clearing man and all ! I 

 and one other took the fence — a mad pro- 

 ceeding, which gave us both an ugly fall; 

 but we scrambled up somehow, and succeeded 

 in picking up the hounds. Late in the evening, 

 whilst hunting another fox, he led us over 

 the same identical ground, and a hard-riding 



