Run with the Royal Stag-hounds, 115 



meet was at Burnliam Beeches; and after seeing 

 the deer off, and the hounds had got out of 

 sight, ho was riding quietly on the turnpike 

 road on his way home, when he was joined by 

 the late Marquis of Worcester, who said di- 

 rectly, '^ I see that you despise this sort of 

 hunting as much as I do;" his lordship also 

 haying left them. They trotted on until they 

 came in sight of Maidenhead Bridge, and then, 

 most unluckily, the stag and hounds crossed 

 the road in front of them. The Marquis re- 

 mained where he was ; but Mr. Smith, wishing 

 to see the hounds cross the Thames, rode 

 hastily over the bridge and along a road 

 parallel with the bank, when suddenly he saw 

 the stag crossing. In a few minutes the 

 hounds and all the field appeared, and all 

 thought of going home was abandoned. He 

 well knew that his horse had not had a gallop 

 for the last month, as fox-hunting was over ; 

 but he thought that Davis and others who 

 knew him would pronounce him ^' dead slow," 



