138 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 



Rydal Water, Wilson's horse became restive, and 

 to quiet it he turned its head to the lake, intend- 

 ing to cool its ardour among the oozy reeds. 

 Soon, however, both man and horse were plunged 

 beyond their depth, when the latter commenced 

 to cross. His friend's horse followed the lead, 

 and both made the passage in safety. Another 

 midnight escapade may be set down, as it was 

 one which he dearly loved and frequently indulged. 

 Soon after De Quincey came to reside in the 

 Lake District, he describes how he was out at 

 dawn on a summer morning, when he saw a 

 cavalcade of six horsemen enveloped in dust come 

 sweeping down the road. In front was a huge 

 beast, advancing at a long trot, and experiencing 

 great difficulty in navigating his unwieldy bulk. 

 The beast is a bull, and as the flying horsemen 

 come nearer, each is seen to be armed with a 

 spear fourteen feet long. The bull gains a rocky 

 eminence, and stands bellowing and blowing 

 clouds of smoke from his nostril. Soon, however, 

 he is dislodged, and, with the hunters at his tail, 

 goes scouring to the plain below. After a struggle 

 in the morass of the lake, lasting a quarter of an 

 hour, and when the bull again seeks higher 

 ground, Wilson yells: "Turn the villain; turn that 

 villain, or he will take to Cumberland ; " and De 

 Quincey, having performed the office requested, 



