RIDING RECOLLECTIONS 



the fences in line, like a squadron of heavy 

 dragoons. 



Yet for all this fire and mettle in chase, they 

 are sad cowards under pressure from a crowd. A 

 whip cracked hurriedly, a horse galloping in their 

 track, even an injudicious rate, will make the best 

 of them shy and sulky for half the day. Only by 

 thorough knowledge of his favourites, and patient 

 deference to their prejudices, has Lord Wolverton 

 obtained their confidence, and it is wonderful to 

 mark how his perseverance is rewarded. While 

 he hunts them they are perfectly handy, and turn 

 like a pack of harriers ; but if an outsider attempts 

 to "cap them on," or otherwise interfere, they 

 decline to acknowledge him from the first ; and 

 should they be left to his guidance, are quite 

 capable of going straight home at once, with 

 every mark of contempt. 



In a run, however, their huntsman is seldom 

 wanting. His lordship has an extraordinary 

 knack of galloping, getting across a field with 

 surprising quickness on every horse he rides, and 

 is not to be turned by the fence when he reaches 

 it, so that his hounds are rarely placed in the 

 awkward position of a pack at fault with no one 

 to look to for assistance. He has acquired, too, 

 considerable familiarity with the habits of his 

 game, and has a holy horror of going home 

 without it, so perseveres, when at a loss, through 



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