But there were a good many falls the last ton minutes: ground heavy, and pace awful; old rat-tail had enough to do to hold his own.

Saw one fellow ride bang into a pollard-willow, when there was an open gate close to him--cut his cheek open, and lay; but some one said it was only Smith of Ewebury, so I rode on." "I hope you English showed more pity to your wounded friends in the Crimea," quoth Stangrave, laughing, "I wanted to stop and pick him up: but Mr.Armsworth would not hear of it." "Oh, sir, if it had been a stranger like you, half the field would have been round you in a minute: but Smith don't count--he breaks his neck on purpose three days a week:--by the by, Doctor, got a good story of him for you.

Suspected his keepers last month.

Slips out of bed at two in the morning; into his own covers, and blazes away for an hour.

Nobody comes.