A daring Leap. 89 



mastership that the fox led the honncls through 

 this park, and they followed through the holes 

 left at the bottom of the walls for game to 

 pass. The horsemen made for a door, but 

 found it locked. Mr. Smith, who was mounted 

 on the General, rode at the wall ; but the horse 

 ran his head up to it and then stopped short. 

 He was then taken back about forty yards, 

 an,d again put at it, and being well spurred, 

 accompanied by a touch of the whip on the 

 shoulder, he sprang over, to the surprise, and 

 indeed horror, of the whole field, who thought 

 it an act of madness, as the rider does now. 

 On reaching the ground on the other side, the 

 horse's fore feet gave way, and he came down 

 on his chest, his rider's feet being dashed on. 

 the ground in a way that gave an awfal shock ; 

 but the horse rose with him on his back, and 

 he kept his seat for a short time, but long 

 enough to allow him to stop the hounds. The 

 men in the mean time had forced the door : 

 when they reached him he was unconscious ; 



