1879—80.] 



A PULL FROM THE PUNCHBOWL. 



309 



Quorn lioimds were out on Tuesday week, the hardy sportsmen 

 who hunt in this wild region were called upon to traverse a 

 rocky ledge overhanging the cottage of some native peasant. 

 The party was led b}' a noble lord, who was under the impres- 

 sion that, as he was on his own propert}^, he at least would be 

 able to find his wa}" in safety — when to their horror the ground 

 on which his horse appeared to be treading so securel}^ sud- 

 denly gave way under him, and both disappeared entirely from 

 view. In their terror and amazement the spectators made 

 certain that horse and rider had dropped into some disused 

 coal mine, and had given them up as utterl}' lost. But soon a 

 grimy face reappeared from the chasm — and his lordship in- 

 formed them that he was standing on his saddle). In another 

 moment stmxly arms pulled him up to a place of safety — while 

 the old woman of the cottage, grumbling loudly, unlocked 

 the door of her cow-shed (through the roof of which this 

 rude entry had been made), and led the horse out through the 

 door. 





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