148 Memoir of Tom Smith, 



having to cross a pasture of 100 acres, which 

 was saturated with rain and very deep. Mr. 

 Smith being asked what he thought of it, said 

 he thought it a wonder that such things did 

 not occur more frequently, as the hounds had 

 no weight to carry. A hearty laugh was raised 

 against him, and exclamations of ^^ Why, such 

 a thing had never been knoT\Ti before in that 

 country," &c. ; but he was able to bear it, for 



" A man convinced against his will 

 Is but an unbeliever still ;" 



and though many years have since gone by, he 

 has not changed his opinion. A distinguished 

 party had assembled at Sulby, and he was able 

 to give them a fine day's sport. He knew 

 that a good fox would be found in JUoatland 

 Wood, which was nearly four miles distant; so 

 he merely ran his pack thi'ough a covert or 

 two on the way to it. When there, they im- 

 mediately found; and their conduct impressed 

 on him the belief that, from some cause or 

 other, hounds might now and then be safely 



