AN ENGLISH FARMER. 37 



exertion on either side. There is, fortunately for many 

 of us, a way through, as well as over, most fences ; and 

 Tom does not disdain to wait, in the case of timber, 

 until some ambitious spirit has broken the top rail, 

 which — again fortunately for many of us — some ambi- 

 tious spirit generally contrives to do, either at or with- 

 out the expense of a cropper. 



So it happens that he avoids those moving accidents 

 by flood and field which are irritating to the man who is 

 not used to them ; and that he often comes up smiling 

 with a comparatively fresh horse, while less wary 

 sportsmen, who have been conscientiously riding the 

 line, are beginning to wonder whether they have not had 

 nearly enough of it, and to feel certain that their horses 

 have quite. 



When fourteen stone odd falls, it falls heavy ; and, as 

 many even lighter weights know, the sensation of rising 

 from the ground wondering what has been happening 

 to you, how you came to be sitting about in a damp 

 field, and why you have not a more satisfactory grasp 

 of reins which are lumped up in your hand, or dangling 

 about the fore-legs of a beast which is gaily careering 

 away in the next field, is calculated to destroy the 

 equanimity of the best tempered of men. 



I like Tom IMaizeley so much that I should prefer to 

 depict. him going as Dick Christian did in his best day, 

 and taking what came in his way without fear or 

 favour ; but a regard for fact has taken the point out of 

 many a spirited story, albeit there are a good many 



