56 Memoir of Tom Smith, 



went over to Quorndon, where Sir Bellingliam 

 Graham, his old acquaintance, was then Mas- 

 ter of Hounds. On the following day they 

 rode together to the first regular meet at 

 Kirhy Gate. Mr. Smith was mounted on the 

 General, for which Sii' Eellingham had offered 

 250 guineas ; but he told the baronet that 

 these Leicestershire hard riders rather fright- 

 ened him. 



^'jN^ever mind," was the answer; ^'you'll 

 get along with that horse ; besides, after the 

 first five minutes you'll see only ten or twelve 

 of them with the hounds;" which turned out 

 to be the case. To liis surprise, when the 

 hounds were running across a large pasture, 

 these men turned to the left away from them ; 

 but he, seeing what he took to be only a 

 common fence, rode straight on. It was a 

 fence, to be sure ; but on the other side w^as 

 an aw^fully wide and deep ditch, ^'hicli his 

 horse coukl not clear. Instead, he performed 

 a complete somerset, and fell on his back, 



