An extraordinary Escape, 73 



that the gate opened on to Winter's Hill com- 

 mon, where cattle are turned out, and it was 

 therefore not hung in the usual way. How- 

 ever, there are other obstacles than oddly-hung 

 gates to be met with in Hampshire ; and one 

 of the most extraordinary escapes that Mr. 

 Smith ever heard of happened to a member 

 of the Hambledon. Mr. Barkworth, who was 

 one of their hardest riders, when in chase 

 went full tilt at a low part of a hedge near 

 Basing Park, when, wonderful to relate, he 

 fell flat on his face, and his horse disap- 

 peared ; it had fallen down a draw-hole seventy 

 feet deep, whence chalk had been drawn for 

 dressing the land. Of course the horse was 

 killed, but his rider did not lose his nerve as 

 well as liis steed. Another member of the 

 Hunt was a very noted hard rider ; this was 

 Sir J. C. Jervoise, of Idsworth. Many men 

 will ride over fences, but very few would ride 

 down a steep hill like him; indeed he was 

 never known to turn from anything. On one 



