by John Mills,
Author of the "Old English Gentleman."
Originally published in Ainsworth's Magazine: A Miscellany of Romance (Chapman and Hall) vol.3 #13 (Feb 1843).
Early in March, and nearly twelve at night, I arrived at the well-known inn at Salt-Hill, cold and weary. The host received me with a profusion of smiles and bows, holding the stirrup while I dismounted, and offering to see my horse attended to while I obtained those little consolatory indispensables—refreshments. But a sportsman's maxim being to attend personally to the wants of his horse ere he attends to himself, I declined the offer, and proceeded to the stable with my favourite.
"A likely hanimal, this ere oss, sir," remarked a little bandy-legged ostler.
"Yes," I said; "there never was a better. The rasper cannot be too great, nor the run too long."
"So I ad a hidea from his shape-an'-make, sir. Bit of a warmint, tho', I suspect."
"He is very high couraged, yet an excellent temper," I replied.
"Them's my pips! Nothin' like blood-an'-bone from the queen to the oss, sir. I know'd he was the right sort. I should think I was a bit of a judge," said the egotistical ostler, with a self-satisfied chuckle.
"The throw off will be unusually great to-morrow," I said. "Have you any gentlemen sleeping here?"
"No we ain't, sir; only von. Our stalls, 'owever, is full o' osses; and taking the lump, I never see'd greater clippers. But," he added, laughing, "I 'spect some on 'em 'll shake their tails a few afore tomorrow at this time; for old Ripley's to be turned out, I'ear. Mr. Davis gives a brexfast to-morrow morning," he continued; "and her Majesty is a comin' to see the hanimal turned out. There will be a set of muffs a riskin' of their precious necks, I've a hidea."
This was no news to me. The papers had announced the intention of the Queen to honour the last day of the season with her presence, and great were the preparations made by all classes to join in the sport. Saddles, bridles, boots, coats, spurs and whips, received an extra rub and polish. Many, who never intended to risk the chances of the chase, determined to stand the hazard of the die for once, and metamorphose themselves into daring Nimrods.
"That oss next to yourn belongs to the gen'lman wot's sleeping 'ere. A wery spicy kid he is, and no mistake," observed my loquacious friend.
I looked at the animal, and, to my delight, saw that it was my friend McDonald's picture of a horse. He was a superb animal. His blood as pure as that of the Ptolemies, and black and shining as the polished jet. His limbs were perfect symmetry, and shaped in Nature's faultless mould.
"That is the only horse I ever coveted," I said; "and yet I think my own can do as much across a stiff country."
"A uncommon good match they'd be, by what I can judge, sir. Howsomdever," addressing the horse, "you're done up for this night, my boy; and if I don't mistake, you'll be done up to-morrow night, haw! haw! haw!"
I smiled at the intended facetiousness of the remark, and proceeded to the house, where I found McDonald comfortably sprawled upon a sofa before a roasting fire, smoking cigars and joking with a pretty smart chambermaid, who was holding a candle and warming pan.
As soon as he saw me, he sprung up, and seizing my hand, said, "My dear fellow, how are you? I was just going to my dormitory, not having any one to talk to, except Susan here, who began to get tired. Susan, my dear, take away that candle and sheet-warmer, we intend making ourselves comfortable previous to availing ourselves of your kindness. Now, my boy, for the feast of reason and the flow of soul."
After discussing some excellent viands and divers quantities of foaming ale, we commenced relating anecdotes and adventures over a bowl of punch of capacious dimensions.
"I will tell you how I managed to obtain Ellen's consent," said McDonald, after some previous conversation. "As you know, we are to be married this day week. To mention, in a direct manner, my wish, was impossible, out of pure gallantry—bless her heart! However, I managed it like an artful old fox. 'Ellen,' I said, 'you must persuade the governor to take you to the hunt on Thursday; the scene will be extremely gratifying.' 'Papa has already offered to do so,' she replied; 'but I shall not go unless you accompany us.' 'Nothing would give me greater pleasure,' I said; 'but promising you never to hunt again, of course the affair is impossible.' 'But you can ride with us and see it,' she replied. 'Ride in the carriage and see it!' I said—'it would break my heart; and,' added I, in an under tone, just sufficient for her to hear me, 'it will almost, if I keep away.'
"If you could have seen her at that moment, God bless her! she looked so beautifully unhappy—her large blue eyes filled with tears—I felt such a rascal! But Heaven forgive me! I thought more at that moment of to-morrow's fun, than her tears. 'You wish to ride,' she said, 'do you? I placed my arm round her taper waist, and giving her a kiss, whispered, 'If you allow me this once, it shall be the last.'"
I awoke about seven. The "glorious orb of day" tinged the sky with varied and glowing hues; the refreshing tears of morning sparkled brilliantly upon Flora's lap; the birds sang joyously their matin thanksgivings, setting a worthy example to beings of a larger growth:—In plainer language, it was a very fine morning.
Under my window lounged a careless-looking, handsome young man, smoking a cigar. He was equipped in scarlet and top-boots, and occasionally sung a verse or two of a sporting song. Upwards of fifty noble horses were being paraded in their clothes up and down a paddock, in front of my window, taking a sniff of the morning air, which, by the learned in equestrian science, is deemed indispensable previous to great exertion. My horse was among the number; and as he proudly arched his neck, and disdained to touch the earth with his daisy-trimmers, I determined he should this day win a wreath of laurel, by putting his best leg foremost.
Carriages, tandems, buggies, gigs, dog-carts, donkey-carts, coaches, omnibuses, waggons, every description of vehicle, from the ancient and dilapidated to the most dashing modern four-in-hand, now came rattling to the door. "Here he comes! Here he comes!" shouted a hundred voices. Five or six hundred yards from us a beautiful carriage with four horses approached. The harness and trappings were covered with silver, which glittered in the sun; and as if conscious of their attractive appearance, the high-blooded animals lifted their feet nearly to their chests, as they came tearing along. It was Lord --, the Master of the Hounds, and his friends, consisting of young sporting noblemen. His lordship was driving, and as he pulled up at the inn, and threw the reins from his hand, the people gave a hearty cheer.
Preparations were now made for the sport. Some were mounting, others were dismounting against their inclination; and as a new disciple of Nimrod found himself biting the dust in a sprawling attitude, loud laughed the crowd, much to the discomfiture of the fallen hero.
It was just eleven, when an elegant little carriage, drawn by two white ponies, came quickly along the road. In this quiet and unostentatious style approached the Queen. A diminutive, ragged, shoeless urchin lifted the remnants of a straw hat from his head, as the carriage passed him, which was most graciously acknowledged by her Majesty. The well intended and studied politeness of the little fellow was returned with more observance than to the highest in the kingdom. As the carriage neared, the loud cheers caused many of the horses to rear and become very restive. McDonald, who had been talking to some ladies in a carriage, joined in the hurrahs! But no sooner had he given one shout than his horse gave a furious plunge in the air, whirled round and round, snorted with distended nostrils, and his eyeballs shooting fire. At every plunge he neared the carriage where the ladies he had left were sitting. McDonald appeared glued to the saddle, and used every exertion to prevent approaching the spot where the ladies were. The horse's fury increased, and when within a few yards of the carriage, finding no other means left, McDonald plunged the rowels deeply into his flanks, and lunging him with all his power, hurled the excited animal to the ground. One of the ladies screamed "He's killed! he's killed!" and sunk upon the seat of the carriage; but McDonald, to the astonishment of all who witnessed the accident, was not in the slightest degree injured, and disengaging himself from the stirrups, he struck the prostrate horse, and making him rise, mounted again as if nothing had occurred, amid innumerable cheers and compliments. He proceeded to the carriage, where I joined him, and found the lady, who had fainted, a young and beautiful girl, just recovering from her fright. The dazzling brilliancy of her eyes was most striking, increased no doubt by the excitement she had undergone. Her lips were white with fear, and although suffering under intense emotion, a more lovely creature I never saw.
"Ellen," said McDonald, "don't be so alarmed; I'm not injured. Come, come, let me introduce my friend to you."
As I bowed, and saw her swimming eyes, I thought a day's hunting was dearly purchased by giving her a moment's uneasiness.
"Pray," she said, addressing me, "prevail upon him not to ride that mad wretch, for I, apparently, have no influence. Oh, do not, Donald! pray do not!"
"Ellen, do not be so childish. You gave me your consent to ride, and because Black Prince had a caper, you now wish me to look very like a man-milliner, and get into that bandbex of a carriage. A pretty exhibition I should make!" replied McDonald, somewhat irritated.
"Well, well!" said she, "do as you please, Donald. But really you make me very unhappy."
He then went close to her, and leaning upon the side of the carriage, whispered something which made the anxious girl in a moment appear consoled and happy. Her features beamed with sunny smiles, and all remains of tears were at once dispelled. I entertained no doubt but that it was a promise not to proceed, and merely start with the hounds for the sake of appearance. This, however, was but surmise. Lord --, with his gold dog-couples slung across his shoulders, the badge of Master to her Majesty's Hounds, proceeded to the royal carriage to inquire "if her Majesty wished the stag to be thrown off then, all things being prepared." An assent being returned, all moved towards the deer-cart, placed in the centre of a spacious grass field. The appearance of the cortège at this moment was imposing in the extreme. At least five hundred gentlemen, attired in scarlet and mounted on the finest horses, lined the road on each side for the Queen's carriage to pass; numerous vehicles, filled with England's fairest daughters, followed; then came crowds of pedestrians, the light of gratification glowing in every face. After them slowly followed the royal hounds, accompanied with the huntsman and whippers-in, splendidly accoutred in scarlet and gold.
Expectation being roused to the utmost, the signal was given for the deer-cart to be unfastened. Open flew the door, and out leaped the noble antlered monarch of the forest, his horns gaily trimmed with "ribands rare, streaming in the wind." He stood for an instant, as if contemplating the multitude before him; then, turning round with head erect and outstretched limbs, he sniffed the wind, and determined what course to take. After a measured haughty step or two, as if scorning to seem afraid, away he bounded. I lingered near the carriage where McDonald's devoted Ellen sat; and as he was leaving, I saw her give him a searching look.
"Heaven bless you, dearest! Remember your promise," she said. But he could scarcely have heard what she uttered, for the moment his horse felt that he was to move, he bounded in the air like an antelope, and curvetted with delight, anticipating the enjoyment that was to follow.
"Hold hard, gentlemen!" shouted the huntsman; "let them get at it, Plenty of time, gentlemen."
In a few seconds, on swept the ardent horses, men, and dogs, over everything in their way; ditches, hedges, gates, walls, brooks, fields, and gardens, came all alike. A few, certainly, found the first waterfurrow a desperate impediment, and in various postures hugged mother earth, while their animals, disencumbered, heartily enjoyed a gallop by themselves.
My horse required, as usual, much coaxing and caressing to be induced to keep behind, for believing the run would be great, I endeavoured to curb his impetuosity as much as possible; but the numbers sweeping past caused him to pull and fret, until his veins swelled like fibres on a vine leaf. The perspiration rolled from his glossy coat and the white foam flew from his bit, as his speed still increased, despite of all my exertions. At length the soaked reins slipped through my fingers, as I fruitlessly pulled upon him. On he was determined to go, at his own pace; and on he rushed. Losing all control over him, the mad, but noble creature, carried me with the swiftness of a hawk: like a bird he topped the fences, whirling me with unnecessary desperate leaps, proud of his prowess, and careless to consequences. I soothed at length with my voice, but no sufficiently so as to guide him. A railed fence was within a few yards of us, at least six feet in height, towards which he was making a direct course. The speed he was going at was alone sufficient to render it impossible to clear it; as we neared, however, I gave him his head, and striking my spurs deeply into his sides, he bounded from the earth, and falling across the fence, pitched head foremost on the ground.
Heaven only knows how far I was sent! But it appeared to me that I never should reach the ground. Millions of stars flashed in my eyes, as I rose on my knees to discover the damage effected; blood was flowing from an undiscovered source, which, upon examination, proved to be from the prominent feature of my face. I rose from the ground, and found my horse standing, uninjured, gazing steadfastly in the direction of the hounds: his sleek ears were pricked forward, and huge drops of sweat rolled down his body, and from his fetlocks a clear stream trickled to the earth. I examined my limbs, and finding them whole and sound, with the exception of a few slight contusions, I again mounted. Not a horse was in sight, not a hound to be heard. I listened, and strained my ears to catch a sound that might lead me in the direction of the chase; but all had gone far, far away. After sitting a few minutes in my saddle, I prepared to return, thinking my pleasure at an end. While slowly proceeding down a lane, I caught a distant cry, and felt assured that it was the deep-toned note of a hound. I galloped in the direction of it; and clearing a thick-set holly-bush fence (an uncomfortable spot to be thrown into), I saw the object of the hunt, the noble stag, flying along the banks of the Thames. I halted, and watched him. He stopped at intervals, and seemed undetermined what course to take to baffle his pursuers. At length he drew back from the verge of the stream, and rushed towards it; then stopped suddenly upon the brink, and turned his head from the river in a listening posture. The hounds could now be heard distinctly approaching; when gently gliding into the water, with his head thrown back, he buffeted the rapid stream, and landing on the opposite side, he continued his rapid flight. The hounds came to the spot where the stag took the water, and were "at fault." Not discovering immediately what course he had taken, I was not anxious that they should find it out very soon, feeling the effects of my tumble still ringing in my ears.
The flower of the field now arrived, all the "cocktails" shaken off, and only the select few left alone in their glory. In a few moments, the leader, a gallant old hound, placed his nose to the water's edge and gave one deep, beautifully-toned cry, as much as to say, "This way, my boys!" when all obeyed the mandate by springing into the river, and following the track of their victim. But if the dogs were so willing and ready to wet their coats, the sportsmen were not.
"What shall we do?" inquired a gentleman in patent leather boots and a bright pink coat. "There's literally no bridge for seven miles."
I took my horse quietly to the edge of the bank, and giving him a pat with my hand, set the example of the quickest method of crossing the water by going into it. After a little difficulty in reaching the other side, I jumped from his back, and scrambling up the bank, safely landed. My horse placed his fore feet on the side, and sprung up the bank with a loud neigh, much pleased at regaining his native element.
McDonald now arrived on Black Prince, covered with foam. Without hesitation, he urged his horse to take the water; but not desirous of being turned into one of the Hippocampi, he unequivocally declined treating his rider with a swim. Spur and whip were applied with the effect of creating only a few decided kicks and plunges. McDonald became enraged at his refusing, and began whipping and spurring without mercy; but all to no purpose. Finding force of no avail, he determined upon stratagem. Dismounting, he tied his handkerchief over his horse's eyes, and taking him about thirty yards from the river, struck his rowels into his flanks with cruel force, and drove him towards the stream as fast as he could come. Over the bank they fell with such force that both sunk in an instant, and remained under the water for some seconds. When they came up, the horse commenced plunging violently, and McDonald endeavoured to reach over his head to take off the handkerchief, so that he might see his way to shore; but from his struggles, he could not accomplish it. At length, McDonald rose in his stirrups, and stretching out as far as possible, almost reached the handkerchief, when, losing his balance, he fell over the horse's head, taking the reins with him. From some unaccountable misfortune, these became entangled round his body, and prevented his disengaging himself from the blind and struggling animal. The horse, infuriated with fear, raised himself out of the water as far as possible, and, with short jumps, dragged his ill-fated master with him. Both hurried with the rapid current, while every exertion was being used to render assistance. The horse rolled from one side to the other, snorted and plunged, till at last worn out with violent and useless exertion, he buried his head between his knees and sunk, leaving but a few air-bubbles to rise and burst where, but a moment before, one loving and beloved, in the exuberance of manhood's strength and beauty, gasped for life thoughtlessly sacrificed.
I galloped to the nearest cottage, in a state of frenzy, for assistance. The frightened cottager followed me with ropes, with all possible speed; but when we arrived at the river, upon the bank laid the lifeless body of McDonald, his pale and ashy countenance turned upwards, upon which the beams of the sun glowed faintly. By some means he had been dragged from the water, and a vein had been opened—but, alas! the heart refused its functions—the blood refused to flow!
I thought of Ellen—the beautiful, and soon to be—heart-broken Ellen! Tears came to my relief, or a few moments more, and my heart would have burst. Others followed my example. And there might be seen many a rough hunter brushing the moisture from his cheek, sorrowful for the fate of the gallant McDonald.