Mr. Drttry Wake, 303 



of the briefs that were so surely awaiting him, it became 

 evident that the long and weary ride with Sir Hugh 

 Rosens despatch had found out a weak place in the 

 spinal cord, and the hardy, healthy, untirable horseman, 

 slowly settled down into a confirmed invalid. For five 

 long years it seemed as though the most agile member 

 of an active family was doomed to pass the rest of his 

 days in a recumbent position. Happily the disease 

 began to respond to the skilful and judicious treatment 

 of Dr. Barr of Northampton, and at the end of the fifth 

 year the invalid was occasionally seen at the Meets in a 

 carriage constructed for the purpose. Driving with a 

 courage apparently unaffected by years of confinement, 

 the convalescent was determined, as of yore, not to be 

 left out in the cold ; and driving with some disregard for 

 horse, carriage or self, contrived to see as much of the 

 sport as many a mounted man. 



After this, health soon came as a reward for patient 

 endurance of a great calamity ; and in the sixth year after 

 his first absence, he, who had been so long and so 

 sincerely missed by his hunting-friends, was once more 

 to be seen at the cover-side. 



An accident in the hunting-field some four years since, 

 looked for a time as if it would entail a recurrence of the 

 spinal evil. In riding at the Whilton Brook, Mr. Wake's 

 horse swerved, and crossed that of Mr. Nethercote on the 

 very brink of the stream. A collision followed, horses 

 and riders fell into the water, and for a few moments the 

 horsemen were having a bad time among the legs of the 

 struggling and alarmed quadrupeds. Happily, neither 

 of the former was struck j but on emerging from their 

 perilous position, Mr. Wake, in addition to being con- 



