A CITY '' HUNTING MAN r 13 



A slight literary achievement describing a run with 

 the South Wessex, detailing how " among those well 

 up throughout, despite the awkward line of country- 

 traversed, we recognised Mr. Thomas Checkley on his 

 gallant bay, Pytchley," &c., did not find its way to the 

 dignity of print, and perhaps this may account for 

 Checkley's complaint. The "Member of the Hunt" 

 by whom the account was written omitted to send his 

 name, and possibly the suspicion which points to the 

 rider of the gallant bay itself may be unfounded. 



All things about him, indeed, proclaim Checkley to be 

 a hunting man, and so he is ; but, as everyone knows 

 who has been with hounds five minutes after they have 

 got well away on a hot scent, the verb to hunt is 

 wonderfully elastic, and of wide significance ; and the 

 one place where Checkley's enthusiasm wanes, and, like 

 Bob Acres' courage, oozes out, is when mounted on his 

 gallant bay, Pytchley, or any other of his stud, and 

 landed in a field with a locked gate on the side beyond 

 which hounds are running. 



Theoretically, Checkley is a superb rider. Over 

 timber he is especially hard to beat — in the smoking- 

 room after dinner — and it is quite a treat to hear him 

 dilate upon the ease with which the highest posts and 

 rails may be crossed if you only sit well back and hold 

 your horse together before his effort and after he has 

 landed on the other side. 



Water bothers him sometimes — even in the aforesaid 

 smoking-room. This he confesses ; hinting, however, 



