280 iiADIES ON HOESEBACK. 



two seasons to hounds, never making a mistake 

 nor pulling in the least. Not being able to ride, 

 having shortly before met with a very serious 

 accident, I lent " the big bay " to a hard- 

 riding young officer for a day's hunting. He 

 unfortunately must have made too free use of 

 his long-necked spurs, and, totally unknown 

 to me, ruffled the horse's temper ; the animal 

 remembering the treatment he received, and 

 finding but a feather on his back, when excited 

 by the music of the hounds, overpowered his 

 rider ; but, thank Heaven, no serious accident 

 occurred. I was unutterably shocked and 

 distressed on hearing of the occurrence, and 

 may state that on the day in question I was 

 driving in my dog-cart, accompanied by a 

 gentleman (late an officer in Her Majesty's 

 service) who can vouch for the truth of my 

 statement, when Mrs. O'Donoghue came up 

 to me and told me of her very narrow escape. 

 I did not hesitate an instant to say, " I will 

 take out the horse I am driving. You know 

 him to be a perfect mount, and I will put 

 * the big bay ' in my trap." The lady did not 

 wish me to do so, knowing the risk I ran in 



