138 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 
Rydal Water, Wilson’s horse became restive, and 
to quiet it he turned its head to the lake, intend- 
ing to cool its ardour among the oozy reeds. 
Soon, however, both man and horse were plunged 
beyond their depth, when the latter commenced 
to cross. His friend’s horse followed the lead, 
and both made the passage in safety. Another 
midnight escapade may be set down, as it was 
one which he dearly leved and frequently indulged. 
Soon after De Quincey came to reside in the 
Lake District, he describes how he was out at 
dawn on a summer morning, when he saw a 
cavalcade of six horsemen enveloped in dust come 
sweeping down the road. In front was a huge 
beast, advancing at a long trot, and experiencing 
great difficulty in navigating his unwieldy bulk. 
The beast is a bull, and as the flying horsemen 
come nearer, each is seen to be armed with a 
spear fourteen feet long. The bull gains a rocky 
eminence; and stands bellowing and blowing 
clouds of smoke from his nostril. Soon, however, 
he is dislodged, and, with the hunters at his tail, 
goes scouring to the plain below. After a struggle 
in the morass of the lake, lasting a quarter of an 
hour, and when the bull again seeks higher 
ground, Wilson yells: “Turn the villain; turn that 
villain, or he will take to Cumberland ;” and De 
Quincey, having performed the office requested, 
