^6 How I Became a Sportsman. 



the hounds, which after some time we did, in 

 full cry crossing" the road in front of us ; but 

 the keeping with him, as the sequel proved, 

 was easier said than done. But now, as Mr. 

 Somerville has it, 



" 'Twas triumph all and joy,-" 



for a very short time though, for, nolejis volenSj 

 I was soon carried to the front (it was not 

 quite my first appearance with hounds, for 

 I had had one or two little goes with the 

 old horse on the quiet). 



Leaving my father and his injunctions far 

 behind, — indeed, I had too much to do to take 

 care of myself to be able to attend to them, — 

 we had a glorious run of what appeared to me 

 to be about ten miles (I believe it was really 

 about two) to a wood, into which I went helter 

 skelter. Some one hallooed out, " Hold hard ! 

 hold hard, you little beggar on the pony ! 

 hold hard ! " I held as hard as I possibly 

 could, but the deuce a bit could I stop. He 

 went all down the ride, which was very muddy, 

 as hard as he could lay his legs to the 

 ground. When we got to the end of the ride 

 he condescended to stop, I have no doubt 



