96 SPORTING ADVENTURES OF 



me, and taught me a good deal. I learnt to ride 

 to hounds with him, not well certainly, but in 

 my vanity I soon imagined I not only rode, but 

 shot better than my instructor. One day, after 

 shooting at twenty-three snipes, and only killing 

 one, and the next missing thirteen rabbits turned 

 out from the keeper's pockets, I was fain to admit 

 I was not the shot I thought myself ; so I betook 

 myself back to London — a sadder, but not a wiser 

 man. I then entered one of the pigeon clubs. 

 Pigeon club ? it was one. I won't say anything 

 about that. If I had gone on with it I should 

 soon have had pockets to let. I was terribly 

 laughed at by every one, for I could neither shoot 

 nor make anything by betting. 



I then determined to try hunting, and wrote to 

 my old friend in Ireland to procure me a couple of 

 horses. This he did, and sent me a couple of good 

 ones. I enjoyed the hunting more than I did the 

 shooting, because I could ride a little, and got on 

 better. 



Sending my horses down to the country one fine 



morning, the next I followed them to , where I 



had taken a little box for the season. Many were 

 my mishaps during the few months I was there, 

 which was not to be wondered at. 



I was in the famous run I am about to relate, 



