RIDING RECOLLECTIONS 



stories told of "Tom Smith's" skill and daring 

 are little, if at all, exaggerated. He seems 

 admitted by all to have been the boldest, as he 

 was one of the best, horsemen that ever got into 

 a saddle with a hunting-whip in his hand. 



Though subsequently a man of enormous 

 wealth, in the prime of life he lived on the 

 allowance, adequate but not extravagant, made 

 him by his father, and did by no means give those 

 high prices for horses, which, on the principle 

 that "money makes the mare to go," are believed 

 by many sportsmen to ensure a place in the front 

 rank. He entertained no fancies as to size, 

 action, above all, peculiarities in mouths and 

 tempers. Little or big, sulky, violent, or restive, 

 if a horse could gallop and jump, he was a hunter 

 the moment he found himself between the legs of 

 Tom Smith. 



There is a namesake of his hunting at present 

 from Melton, who seems to have taken several 

 leaves out of his book. Captain Arthur Smith, 

 with every advantage of weight, nerve, skill, seat, 

 and hand, is never away from the hounds. More- 

 over, he always likes his horse, and his horse 

 always seems to like him. This gentleman, too, 

 is blessed with an imperturbable temper, which 

 I have been given to understand the squire of 

 Tedworth was not. 



Instances of Tom Smith's daring are endless. 

 1 08 



