326 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



Mills, Muntz, M'Corquadale, Pownall, Wakeley, Wallis, 

 R. Williams, Yerburgh, &c. 



We knew that Braunston Gorse was to be the piece de 

 resistance. We knew that Shuckburgh Hill, over the border, 

 had been well rattled on the Thursday previous, and so, 

 sanguine as we ever are when, with eye and ear intent, we 

 await what Braunston Gorse may bring forth, we never 

 stood by the covertside in more confirmed expectancy 

 than about noontide on Saturday. By this time almost 

 every one had begun to feel the first trickle of rain-water 

 adown the skin ; and many a fair form bore a sea-bathing 

 appearance, as workmanlike as it was homely. Men for 

 the most part were better prepared. The morning had 

 been unmistakable, and their rough-weather kit was more 

 complete. The new garment, for instance — a kind of 

 Noah's-Ark redingote of light waterproof cloth — is at tbe 

 covertside eminently practicable and desirable. Its lengthy 

 skirts shelter the longest legs. To the rustic observer it 

 may suggest in some degree the idea of going a-milking, 

 though I cannot see that this is of any consequence. 

 Rather, I should imagine, would objection be found, when 

 going rapidly across country, in that these flying jibs must 

 rend and disperse among the rough thorn bullfinches of 

 Northamptonshire, or that, in the case of a nervous horse, 

 they might rouse a panic, with disastrous consequences. 

 (At risk of being dubbed at once discursory and long- 

 winded, I cannot refrain from here inserting, in illustra- 

 tion of such possible danger, an experiment on the part 

 of an honourable friend in the Far W^est, who, to over- 

 come his saddle-horse's abhorrence to a covered waggon, 

 tied a waggon-sheet to the animal's tail. The result was 

 that the poor brute broke from his picket in full sail, 

 stampeded 500 head of valuable horses, many of which 

 were never recovered, while he went away into space, no 

 trace being ever afterwards recovered of him or of his 

 strange apparel.) Before leaving the subject as pertaining 

 to Saturday, I should add that one of those who wore 

 the new overcoat on Saturday had committed himself to 

 oil-silk as the material, and so looked as ready for deep 

 water as any seal. He happened to be one for whom I 



