2S(j THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING^ 



Now we are in the chapter of accidents, 1 

 mnft mention another, that lately happened to 

 me on croffing a river, to draw a cover on the 

 other fide of it. The river Stovver frequently 

 overflows its banks, and is alfo very rapid and 

 very dangerous. Tlie flood that morning, tho* 

 fudden, was extenfive. The neighbouring mea- 

 dows were all laid under water, and only the tops 

 of the hedges appeared. There were polls to di- 

 re(5l us to the bridge, but we had a great length 

 of water to pals before we could get at it ; it was, 

 befides, fo deep tliat our horfes almoft fwam, 

 and the lliorteil: legged horfes and longeft legged 

 riders were worft oft". The hounds dafhed in as 

 iifual, and were immediately carried by the rapi- 

 dity of the current, a long way down the flream. 

 The huntfman was liir behind them; and as he 

 could advance but flowly, he was conftrained to 

 fee his hovmds wear themfelves out in an ufelefs 

 contention with the current, from their efforts to 

 get to him. It was a fhocking fcene ! many of 

 the hounds, when they reached the fhore, had 

 entirely lofl the ufe of their limbs, for it froze 

 and the cold was intolerable. Some lay as if 

 they were dead, and others reeled, as if they had 

 been drinking wine. Our ill luck was not yet 

 complete ; the weakefc hounds, or fuch as were 

 moft afFedled by the cold, we now faw entangled 

 in the tops of the hedges, and heard their lamen- 

 tations. Well-known tongues! and fuch as I 



had 



