74 Memoir of Tom Smith, 



occasion lie rode down that terrible hill oppo- 

 site Duncnmb Wood — of course it was half 

 gallop, half slide — and when he got to the 

 bottom, he fonnd that his horse had torn off 

 three of his shoes. Sir Jeryoise would as- 

 suredly go in the first flight in the Pytchley 

 country. 



A lady also occasionally hunted with these 

 hounds J whose nerve had been proved in a 

 most extraordinary way — Miss M — d. When 

 on a visit at Holywell, and riding with the 

 Hambledon hounds in full cry across Walt- 

 ham Chase, a gentleman's horse in front of 

 the huntsman and this lady made a complete 

 somersault when crossing a shallow water- 

 course, and the rider fell stunned and unable 

 to move for a second or two. When they saw 

 him move, and try to rise up, they left him, 

 the lady laughingly saying, ^'I really thought 

 he was killed;" which induced her companion 

 to say, "Your nerve is extraordinary!" &c. 

 This remark brought from the lady, when 



