FOX-HUNTING. 193 



ditch on the landing side was very often a 

 cause of coming to grief. But before she 

 became clever and handy, how many and what 

 severe falls did I not get with her. I think I 

 had as many falls with her as with all the 

 horses I have had put together, and they have 

 not been a few, and some of them I feel and 

 bear the marks of to the present time. I rode 

 this animal for seventeen seasons, and never 

 knew her beaten ; she was never sick, sorry, 

 or had a dose of physic. When she was 

 about eight years old I was bothered a good 

 deal to sell her, and was offered seventy 

 guineas for her (but I dare say I could have 

 had more), which others beside myself con- 

 sidered a fair price ; but I would not sell her, 

 as she had been given to me. I bred from 



1ier when she was twenty-iive years old, and 

 she threw twin fillies. When she was twenty- 



, seven I shot her, or, rather, had her shot, 

 for I had had her so long I could not find 

 it in my heart to do the deed myself. 



I did not intend this to be a chapter on 

 horse-shooting, which I dare say some of my 

 readers will think it is. I dare say every one 

 has heard at some time or other a man say of 



