40 How I Became a Sportsman. 



afterwards my father called me, and I went 

 home the proudest and happiest boy that day 

 in England. I should have liked to have stayed 

 for another run, but the governor had issued 

 his fiat, and I knew, by a very quiet but 

 determined look which he gave, he was not 

 to be disobeyed. 



It would weary my readers if I recorded 

 all the runs I was in with this varmint little 

 beggar, the narrow escapes I had, the scram- 

 blings and tumblings I got, and the amount 

 of damson-pie that fell to my lot, during the 

 time I rode this really wonderful pony. Suffice 

 it to say, that I rode him, or, rather, he carried 

 ?;?e, because he generally w^ent just where he 

 liked, for several years. He was never tired, 

 never fell down, seeming always to have a 

 leg to spare ; though come down on his nose 

 or knees he did very often, but he was so 

 quick, he w^as up again before he had time 

 to fall. He had the activity and cleverness of 

 a mountain-goat, could jump like an antelope, 

 and the courage of a thorough-bred horse. 

 As long as hounds w^ere running he was all 

 right, as he could then gallop to his heart's 

 content, though it took me all I knew to 



