44 IN COLLINGBOURNE WOODS 



trained to follow over a fence, by which time is gained — 

 as in this instance — ^instead of lost by looking about 

 for an easier exit. 



To perform such feats cleverly and quickly, a horse 

 must be attached to his master and obedient to his will ; 

 but Mr. Smith was too severe a rider for his hunters to 

 become fond of him, and I well remember his celebrated 

 horse, on hearing his voice in the stable, showing as 

 much excitement in his loose box as a tiger does in his 

 den. 



I once fell in with the Squire, in the CoUingboume 

 Woods, where he had been badgering about the whole 

 day, until four o'clock in the afternoon ; at which hour 

 I happened to be riding along by the covert side, on my 

 road to dine with my friend at Chute Lodge. Whilst 

 jogging on quietly, somewhat in the mood of old Horace — 



" Nescio quid meditans nugarum, totus in illis, 

 Accurrit quidam, notus mihi nomine tantum," 



forsooth Mr. Reynolds with his mouth wide open, and 

 in a prodigious haste. My horse pricked up his ears at 

 the sight, and I sat for a moment or two motionless on 

 his back, until my new acquaintance had cleared the 

 fence and gone over the next field. Then, guessing the 

 cause of his haste, I gave two or three thrilling screams 

 which echoed through the wood, and in a moment the 

 shrill blast of a horn broke upon my ear ; nearer and 

 nearer it approached, and soon a horseman was heard 

 crashing through the underwood, before emerging from 

 which, no easy matter, he asked, 



" Where is he gone ? " 



" Here, over this field." 



