126 



HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



mud stirred up by several hardy divers. How 

 often do we not see the Whissendine or one of 

 those winding Leicestershire brooks full of the 

 highest-priced hunters in England, where a polo 

 pony might jump it ? A horse can jump sixteen 

 or twenty feet of water " if he gets his foot in," 





The Fate of the Rover is sealed. 



but how often when he comes down to twelve feet 

 of water has he a chance given him of taking off 

 properly ? The very pace that frequently gets 

 him over water as frequently gets him in ; and 

 horses, like human beings, are demoralised by a 

 bad example, for let but one leader come to grief, 

 immediately ten or a dozen more will stick their 

 toes in, shutting up like foot-rules. 



