Dick Christian again, 65 



mounted Lord Plymouth, did Sir Harry. This 

 Smasher was the only one his lordship ever rode yet 

 with anything like confidence — as I call it. He got 

 lamed with my lord after two seasons, and he gave 

 him his keeper to ride about on. The Doctor wasn't a 

 stout horse ; he always laid down his ears when he 

 come to a fence — I like to see them with their ears 

 pricked — if a horse lays his ears down he's looking 

 behind him ; depend upon it he's been cowed some 

 time. Sir Harry was uncommon fond of a chestnut 

 with white stockings ; a bit of a whistler though. 

 Blamed if I can just think on his name ; he'd be 

 sixteen hands ; all that : he once jumped a brook 

 before he got him, for a thousand guinea bet, and won 

 it too. He dropped under George Beers, and died in 

 the field. Markwell whipped in with George, to Will 

 Derry. 



Sir Harry had the hounds very little .^^^ Mastership. 

 more than two seasons. There was no 

 subscription for covers then ; no nothing. They cost 

 him well on to sixteen thousand altogether. Thrus- 

 sington kennels took good six of it. He'd be pretty 

 nearly his own architect ; they got crabbed somehow ; 

 and the hounds went back to Ouorn. Rent of covers 

 was about six hundred, and lambs and wheat and 

 fowls they'd be nigh three hundred more. Well, it is 

 so. What a deal those foxes did eat ! They ran well 

 too. He tried his hand at importing some. Didn't 

 make n:uch out at that game. They used to hunt six 

 days reg'lar. He was such an active man was Sir 

 Harry, he must have something to do. That was the 

 reason he vook to cocking. He didn't care for the 

 fighting. Ho used to look quite pale and cut up in 

 the pit. The breeding and the feeding was what he 

 liked. Never a one galloping off to see them at walk. 

 If there was a bit of a frost, he'd seldom be away 

 from the kennels, or seeing the covers, or the farmers 

 or something. No rest in him. The farmers would 



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