THE CHASE OF THE CARTED DEER. 2G9 



Av'ay ve all scampnr'd, men, 'osses, and all. 



Till ve came to a leap, ven I came for to fall 



Slap into a ditch ; though I vasn't much 'urt, 



I didn't much like being kiver'd vi' dirt ; 



But I thought it a trifle, for, looking around, 



I saw lots of 'untsmen stretch'd out on the ground. 



Amongst them was Higgins and Higgins's son. 



In short, more vere hunder their 'osses than on. 



I mounted again, clapp'd my spurs on, but zounds ! 



The never a bit vould my 'oss reach the 'ounds ; 



Thinks I, he is hinjured ! I'll get off and see — 



And, sure as a gun, he had broken his knee ! 



I thought that my 'unting vos now at an hend, 



Ven a man who was thrown came and hoffer'd to lend 



His 'unter, provided I'd let him have mine. 



To go to a surgeon's — for he'd injured his spine. 



The swap was heffected, and hoff at full speed 



His hanimal started — no spurring he need; 



He fairly ran off, but so little I cared. 



The stag, 'ounds, and 'untsman amazingly stared. 



As I distanced them all like a shot from a gun. 



Or a cloud in tempest wot passes the sun ; 



Thinks I, he'll be tired afore the next mile. 



So I gave him his 'ead till he came to a stile, 



Ven I pulled him up sharp— but 'twas pulling in wain. 



For hover he lept, and I fell hoff again. 



This fall vos a sick'ner — I came on my nose. 



And thought that my days had now come to a close, 



Ven a friend pick'd me up — and a friend when in need. 



As the proverb remarks, is a friend, sir, indeed. 



He carried me 'ome, safe and sound to my wife. 



Who swears to this day that John Brown saved my life, 



Vich he sartainly did : so my blessings on Brown 



For bringing me hup in his buggy to town. 



Here we have in embryo the various stag-hunting establish- 

 ments which time was to develope ; for, say what we may, 

 the catching your own again business may languish in the 

 country, but to this day it is the favourite form of recreation 

 with those whose business is in the modern Babylon. Many 

 of them hunt, and go well with fox-hounds in the best countries. 



