fying. Bob kept the lead, as at first, in gallant style, his spurs steadily fixed in the horse's shoulder, and one hand firmly grasping the mane. Whenever he came to a leap, he performed nearly the same evolution as before, excepting that, now he held by the mane, he did not altogether part company with his horse, but merely flung his legs up in the air, which gave him very much the appearance of standing upon his head. It was quite tremendous to see him; Astley's journey to Brentford was nothing to it.

But, were I to enumerate all Bob's exploits and admirable manoeuvres, I should write volumes. Every one was worthy to be chronicled, but I must confine myself to the most prominent.

After running about half an hour, I lost sight of Robert, (well called the Devil,) hounds, hunters, and all, in a large wood. To my surprise, the dogs, and not Bob, emerged from it first. Afterwards, came a crowd of horsemen, but Bob was not amongst them; he had taken, as he told me when we got home, a wrong turn, and, presently, I saw him making ample amends

for it. He was not to be outrode by the folks in that county or any other, and he went along furiously. I was close enough to distinguish that he had come nearly the same pace through the wood, for his face was a great deal scratched by the brambles, and the owner of the red coat had to lament that his posterity had lost one skirt of their patrimony. Nevertheless, Bob kept on; nothing stopt him till he came to a large brook, which the rest had avoided, by making a considerable circuit; but my friend was too dauntless to avail himself of their example, and rode directly for it. Now, the horse, it appeared, had not so much courage as the rider, for he pulled up in mid-career. Bob took advantage of this sudden jerk to spring upon the steed's ears, that he might more conveniently reconnoitre the ground, but he was instantly re-seated upon the saddle, though he somehow or other lost the reins, which hung dangling to the ground; perhaps, indeed, he saw that he had no need of them, for the fox was what they called headed back, and the animal was going quite right for the dogs and men, who were galloping full speed towards him.

Both parties thought themselves right; and Bob, who was desirous of turning the torrent, charged first through the pack, and then through the pursuers, crippling half-a-dozen of the first, and dismounting as many of the second. I heard his head come in contact with two or three others, with a sound like the smack of a billiard-ball, and, in fact, he made several of the most scientific cannons that can be well imagined. Bob's skull, however, was not to be broken, and he adhered pertinaceously to his course, the hunt going one way, and he another, till I saw the remains of his red coat bounding up and down, in the diminishing distance, like a lady-bird in a windy day, and gradually disappear.

I was now completely at a stand still. Bob was gone one way, and the hounds another, and I could not, for some time, decide which was most likely to catch the fox. At last, my high opinion of Bob's tactics prevailed, and I made after him as rapidly as I could.

After about an hour's pursuit, I came up to a farm-house, and inquired if they had seen a gentleman in red, running after a fox. The

answer was, that Robert the Devil had actually taken up his quarters there, and I hurried in, expecting to see him cooking the fox for his dinner, for I knew that his exertions must have had a wonderful effect upon his appetite.

When I entered, I found no one but the women of the house, and a person of doubtful sex, swaddled up in flannel petticoats, and crowned with divers woollen nightcaps. I was proceeding to another apartment, calling out, "Bob, where are you, my prince of foxhunters?" when, to my amazement, the doubtful creature cried, "Here I am Bob." To my amazement, do I say? I very nearly dropped to the earth.

The being who asserted himself to be my friend Bob appeared to have no nose; his eyes were swollen out of his head, and all black and bloodshot; his lips and cheeks were all sorts of shapes, and torn all to rags; and the tone of his voice assured me that he had not a firm tooth in his mouth.

"Why, Bob," I exclaimed in horror, "what has become of your nose?"

"Oh, it is all safe," said he, "only a little

VOL. II.

N

flattened I shall soon pinch it up; but did I not astonish them all with my riding?"

"Astonish us! I believe you did, too! But where are all your teeth?"

"Safe in my head, my dear fellow, if they will only stay till I can get them fastened in. Did you see how I topped the first hedge?

"Did I? But, for mercy's sake, let us have some more brown paper and vinegar, for you look as if you had been hanged, drawn, and quartered."

"Did you see me upset half-a-dozen of them? That is the way to do the thing! I'll be bound they are all as jealous and as mad as the deuce!" "I'll be bound they are but where is the horse?"

“I don't know—he ran away as soon as I had done with him."

"I don't know— hanging in a bush — I'll teach them how to ride. It is all right to have a few knocks on the head-it looks sportsmanlike."

Bob showed wonderful game; he not only unfolded his wrappings, and declared his readi