A TREMENDOUS BULLFINCHER 41 



might intervene, but it was not for the purpose of catching 

 hold of his hounds and hurrying them by hasty casts 

 here and there. He was with them to watch their pro- 

 ceedings only, and help them when necessary, and not 

 before. With such a purpose in view, it is not surprising 

 to hear of the numerous perils encountered by Mr. 

 Smith in the Leicestershire country, in almost every 

 field of which he has been heard to say he had had a 

 fall. There was also " method in his madness," as it 

 may be called by some, for he generally contrived to 

 fall on the right side of the fence, that is the other side, 

 and clear of his horse. 



He was one day riding in company with a friend 

 of mine, the hounds running over a very stiff vale, in 

 his Hampshire country, when a tremendous bullfincher 

 presented itself right in their way, which my friend 

 expressed his incapability of accomplishing, thinking 

 no horse in the world could clear it, or even get 

 through. 



" Never mind," cried the Squire, " my place is on 

 the other side, and there I must be at any rate, so good- 

 bye ; " saying which, he sent his horse at the place, with 

 that determination and nerve for which he was so justly 

 renowned, and under the influence of which, horses 

 ridden by himself so seldom swerved at their fences, 

 and on the right side he was landed very soon, but horse 

 and rider — just where my friend expected to see them — 

 on the ground. In short, he rode for a fall, and got 

 one, but, none the worse for his skirmish, was up again, 

 and quickly at the tail of his hounds. 



On another occasion he was riding against a gentleman 

 of the name of White, who happened to arrive first at 

 the only spot in a bullfinch where there was a chance 



Ef 



