26 HUNTING IN MANY COUNTRIES. 



But before the bridge was built there v.-as a ford, and at the 

 time I am writing of the old road through the ford was still 

 open. It was a dark night, and the road into the ford came 

 just before the bridge. Whether he meant it, or was confused 

 by the want of light I do not know, but our driver turned 

 into the ford, and as the horse slowed down into the water, 

 and the cart jerked a little, there was a heavy splash, caused 

 by the militiaman falling off behind. " Pull up ! "I shouted ; 

 but the only answer I got was, " That's just what we wanted. 

 That's lightened the load nicely. Now we shall get up the 

 hill all right. Just think of it, we've drowned a militia- 

 man ! " The " load " had been down in the water, and was, 

 of course, dripping wet, but by walking up the hills and run- 

 ning down them (he was an active boy), with his hand on 

 the tail-board, he covered most of the eleven miles on his feet, 

 and was none the worse for his ducking. 



The Cambridge business was a visit I paid him, and first I 

 should say that John did not go up until he was two or three 

 years over the usual age, and that he went to Downing simply 

 because he had heard that one cf the dons (Mr. Perkins) was 

 secretary of the Cambridgeshire. I had never been at Cam- 

 bridge (except in a Newmarket train), and when John asked 

 me to pay him a visit, he explained that he had put off his 

 own sight-seeing until I came (he had been up at least two 

 terms). Well, I reached Cambridge late one night, and next 

 morning there was a cheery breakfast party in John's rooms, 

 during which time a guide sat in the passage with a tankard of 

 beer in his hand. About twelve o'clock, after an argument 

 as to the course to be followed, we set out, and the first place 

 we reached was a stable where sundry of the party had a hor?e 

 or so at livery. There was a longish delay here, and then an 

 adjournment to another stable, and then, I think, to a third. 

 Then we passed a place " where they sold the best beer in Cam- 

 bridge," and that caused another check, and from this place 

 we went down a yard to see a litter of terrier puppies and a 

 beagle or two at walk. Then I was taken to see the prettiest 

 barmaid in the town, and all this time the guide kept mutter- 

 ing, " What about King's Collec^e chapel? " and so forth. 

 At last one of the party who had constituted himself as our 

 leader very early in the proceedings, said, " Now for the sights. 



