A perilous Adventure. 67 



shore. In a short time the whipper-in (who 

 with the rest had gone round by the bridge) 

 arrived, and gave the Master his horse. Mr. 

 Smith and the Captain then dashed off after 

 the hounds, and killed their fox near Titch- 

 field common, whilst the whipper-in was 

 getting poor General out of the mud. There 

 were some carriages on the common, and the 

 fox was given to the hounds close to them. 

 One of the company asked Mr. Smith whether 

 he was not very cold and wet. To which he 

 replied, ^^IN^either, but I have some water in 

 my boots ;" and holding up his foot, the water 

 poured out as from a bucket, and steaming as 

 if from a tea-kettle. This was in the depth of 

 winter. 



Whenever the hounds hunted in the neigh- 

 bourhood of South Stoneham, Mr. Fleming 

 made a point of inviting Mr. Smith to pass 

 the preceding night at his hospitable mansion. 

 On one occasion there was a fancy ball at 

 the house, and the amiable hostess promised to 



