180 Memoir of Tom Smith. 



avail. I saw, on iiearing the gate, that I had 

 only a single remaining chance. I gave her 

 her head ; I gave her, at the same time, both 

 whip and spur. She shot past the foremost 

 horseman, who had just pulled up — and then 

 like a rocket shot over the gate, taking also 

 the whole pack at a single stride — with three 

 hounds struggling at the time over the top- 

 most bar — and without touching a single 

 hair ! 



"By the time I had succeeded in some- 

 what pacifying my irate and fiery steed, the 

 quondam ' foremost horseman' was by my side. 



" ^ It is not often, sir,' observed he, ^that 

 I like to see a man go before me over a gate ; 

 but I should have been very sorry to have 

 been before you just now !' 



" Well, this was my fii'st acquaintance with 

 Tom Smith; and I should like much to see 

 this his last ' good-bye day,' if such indeed it 

 is meant to be. What say you? Are you 

 game for a gallop with the Hambledon 



