104 WITH HOUND AND TERRIER. 



had a very hard mouth and pulled frightfully at 

 times, she could only be ridden In a snaffle-bridle. 

 When I went with my uncle, Mr Dalton Serrell, 

 and my brother Campbell to buy her, she had been 

 in her box for a week, as no one could get her out. 

 At the end of half an hour Campbell and our man 

 succeeded in getting her Into the yard, and as I 

 wished to try my hand on her, my uncle bought 

 her for me. As soon as the bargain had been 

 struck I prepared to mount the mare, but here I 

 had to reckon with the farmer, who said he could 

 not allow me to mount her, as she would not stand 

 a habit, and he assured me I should be killed. I 

 represented to him, however, that the mare was 

 now my property, and that if he objected to my 

 doing as I liked with her he must return the cheque. 

 This brought him to reason, and I proceeded to 

 ride her home. The mare was very much afraid 

 of my habit at first, and for a long time she would 

 kick at it on a windy day ; but we soon became 

 friends, and she gave me very few falls. 



One fall at Holnest I remember, when Brilliant 

 landed on a bank that gave way with her, and, 

 rolling backward, she fell into the ditch. Scrambling 

 out without me, she galloped off, and several people 

 good-naturedly trying to stop her, she became very 

 wild, and would not let any one come near her. As 

 soon as I had picked myself up I called to her by 

 name, and then she trotted quietly up and stood 

 by my side. Another nasty tumble we had with 

 the Blackmore Vale Hounds, In a flooded ditch 



