214 In Scarlet and Silk 



Smashing the guard-rail ; not seeing the 

 ditch properly, and galloping into it ; fright 

 of it causing the horse to take off too soon, 

 and thereby jump into the fence beyond — 

 all these, and many more besides, are the 

 accidents one may look for at this unnatural 

 obstacle. To wind up an argument upon its 

 merits and demerits, a friend of mine once 

 said to me — 



" I believe you funk it ! " 



" I do," was my answer, and I am not 

 at all ashamed to say so. 



Beware then, oh neophyte ! when coming 

 at this fence ; Ijut remember there must be 

 no "sniffing" at it! Come right along and 

 rouse your horse, without hustling him, at it. 

 The man who " rides his horse's head off," is 

 simply bound to come to grief here. Never 

 shall I forget seeing a gentleman rider, sitting 

 very high in his saddle, driving his horse as 

 if he were in the thick of a Derby finish, as 

 he hasted to the ditch. The horse put his 

 toes in the ground and stopped, l)ut not so 

 the gallant gentleman on his back. Without 



