Hunting on the South Downs. 1 8 r 



Dupont to mount them safely and well. As it was I 

 was fortunate enough to secure the pick of the basket. 

 On looking over the stud I made instant choice of a 

 sturdy little chestnut horse, very fresh and clean on his 

 legs, in blooming condition, looking as hard as nails 

 and as fit as a fiddle. 



Having secured such a business-looking mount I con- 

 gratulated myself on my good luck. Being somewhat 

 like the welter weight of whom the famous Dick 

 Christian remarked, that '^ he was a heavyish sort of 

 man, but he did cuff along uncommon,^' it is a matter 

 of importance to have a hunter well up to my weight. 

 " Behold how brightly breaks the morning,^' I 

 exclaimed, as I threw up my window, and watched the 

 sun rising from the crimson clouds, but this was a 

 promise which, like many others I have met with in a 

 somewhat lengthened career, was not fulfilled. On 

 the contrary, the rain set in with a persistence worthy 

 of a better cause, and I have never in all my life been 

 out hunting on so wet a day as that on vvhich I 

 attended the first meet of the season of the South 

 Down Foxhounds, at the kennels at Ringmer. 



When I stepped on to the well-appointed four-in- 

 hand that started from Waterloo-street, with its neat 

 team of chestnuts, I thought as we drove along the 

 King's-road, and saw the wild waves dashing on the 

 beach, and looked at the leaden skies, that I had never 

 seen so unpromising a day, and began to doubt 

 whether the game was worth the candle ; but when I 

 found a most agreeable lot of companions, and listened 

 to the racy jests and witty remarks of my fellow- 

 sportsmen, I thought, Well, after all, what does a little 

 rain matter ? Arriving at the kennels, George 



