26 How I Became a Sportsman. 



of those mistakes that human beings are con- 

 stantly committing — we cannot let well alone. 

 Before I could say Jack Robinson, up went his 

 heels, round went the big saddle, and I was on 

 the ground; and Neddy, I suppose, thinking 

 he could get rid of the spurs and his persecutor 

 at once, galloped off with all his might ; but, 

 unfortunately, one of my feet hung in the 

 stirrup, and I was dragged along the ground in 

 anything but a dignified, and certainly a most 

 uncomfortable and dangerous, position. He 

 trod on my body, he trod on my hand, he trod 

 on me everywhere ; one of his feet went into 

 my mouth, — at least, as much of it as would go 

 in, — cutting it severely, and the marks of which 

 I bear to this day. Of course in this predica- 

 ment I did not forget to halloa. My cries of 

 blue murder, or whatever they were, brought 

 out the cook and housemaid, the former of 

 whom, by making a sudden short cut across a 

 border, succeeded in stopping the beast. Tom 

 then came running out, with a knife in one 

 hand and bread and cheese in the other. I 

 was carried into the house with all the wind 

 knocked out of me, covered with blood and 

 bruises, and was soon undressed, washed, and 



