An unpleasant Adventure. 155 



somethmg very like a race for life. Einding 

 Ms pursuers gain on Mm, lie rode at a fence, 

 but his horse fell at tlie ditch. The mob were 

 almost on Mm ere he could force Ms horse 

 over ; and then many got into the field at a 

 gate near the spot, and chased Mm with cries 

 of *^Stop tMef!" and choicer exclamations. 

 Luckily the horse cleared the next hedge 

 and ditch, wMch some of the fellows rode at, 

 but only to fall head over heels. Mr. Smith 

 rode off, laughing at them floundering in the 

 mud, cleared the next fence into the road near 

 Staines, and stopped at the inn, to refresh both 

 himself and his horse. Soon after the ostler 

 came to say that the horse was very lame. 

 Mr. Smith went to the stable, and then sent 

 for a farrier, who proved to be a very respect- 

 able, intelligent man. They discussed the 

 matter over a bottle of port, when the farrier 

 pronounced the horse unsound, and pointed 

 out the marks of its having been lately blis- 

 tered on the lame leg. Mr. Smith sent the 



