A hasty Journey. 23 



shire, he was able to be of service in their 

 matches with the Teignbridge club. This 

 caused him to be sought after; and accord- 

 ingly, when he was one day sailing with his 

 friend Mr. Fleming, of Stoneham Park, in his 

 yacht Elizabeth, he received a letter par- 

 ticularly begging him to join his Earnstaple 

 friends at eleven o'clock next day. The yacht 

 was then off the Isle of Wight, and it seemed 

 hardly possible to be in time ; but Mr. Smith 

 resolved to try. He was instantly set on 

 shore, travelled all night (there were no rail- 

 ways then), and reached Exeter, where a car- 

 riage-and-four was in waiting with some of the 

 party. He was just allowed time for a plunge 

 in the bath at the inn and a cup of tea, and 

 then repaired to the field. The Earnstaple 

 party was successful ; but many expressed the 

 opinion that it would have been otherwise if 

 the Hampshire man had not been there. 



Another sport that he enjoyed in Devon- 

 shire was otter-hunting, along with Mr. 



