202 HUNTING IN MANY COUNTRIES. 



up and down the rides people became collected in groups 

 geiserally where there was a cross-ride. Perhaps a dozen riders 

 were in one particular spot, when someone shouted " Look- 

 out ! " and a runaway horse was seen coming right at us at 

 a high rate of speed. There was a general pulling to one side, 

 and as the horse approached the group he began to stop of 

 hi- own accord, for his rider did not appear to have the lea^t 

 control over him. But in stopping he collided with a tree 

 and his rider came off, being thrown on to his back almost 

 in the centre of the ride. Quite a usual thing, you will say, 

 and so it was; but the joke (if any) was forthcoming in the 

 fact that the fallen horseman wore a blue pea-jacket — greatly 

 worn at that day, but not in the hunting field — and a pair 

 of wide blue trousers. These were rucked up and torn, and, 

 as their owner recovered his wind, it was seen by everyone 

 that he had underneath the blue trousers well-made and 

 smart top boots, and leathers above. He soon came round, 

 and was the victim of a good deal of chaff, and he was quickly 

 recognised as a somewhat eccentric young Don, who was after- 

 wards a first-rate sportsman, but was then going through 

 his novitiate. Why he covered up his new boots and breeches 

 1 never heard; but, a jiropos curious costumes, I remember 

 being out with the Ledbury at some incredibly early hour at 

 the end of August, and the sudden appearance of a youngish 

 man in new scarlet, white breeches, top boots, and tall hat, as 

 if it had b» en the regular season. Who he was I have quite 

 forgotten, and I would not reveal his name even if I remem- 

 bered it; but he made a striking apparition, and the Master 

 (Mr. Charles Morrell) was the most astonished man in the 

 world when he saw it. Mr. Morrell was not far away, inside 

 a covert, hunting hounds, and, seeing the scarlet, he naturally 

 thought it was one of his own men in the wrong place, and 

 shouted out some order. To this there was no response, and 

 it v/as not until the IMaster obtained a full view of the mag- 

 nificent cubhunter that he realised he had been shouting in 

 vain. 



I remember in that same season of 1872 being at the 

 opening meet of the Bioester, just after Lord VaJentia 

 had taken the metstership, and I was aJ&o in the 

 same season at the opening meet of th© Old Berks, of 



