stag followed and therefore, without stopping to gratify
the curiosity of the spectators, he in a few minutes outstripped every
hunter in the field. There being a deep hollow betwixt him and the
hounds, rather than ride round, about the length of a furlong, in a
path that crossed the lane, he transported himself at one jump, to the
unspeakable astonishment and terror of a waggoner who chanced to be
underneath, and saw this phenomenon fly over his carriage. This was not
the only adventure he achieved. The stag, having taken a deep river
that lay in his way, every man directed his course to a bridge in
the neighbourhood; but our bridegroom's courser, despising all such
conveniences, plunged into the stream without hesitation, and swam in a
twinkling to the opposite shore. This sudden immersion into an element
of which Trunnion was properly a native, in all probability helped to
recruit the exhausted spirits of his rider, at his landing on the other
side gave some tokens of sensation, by hallooing aloud for assistance,
which he could not possibly receive, because his horse still maintained
the advantage he had gained, and would not allow himself to be
overtaken.

In short, after a long chase that lasted several hours, and extended to
a dozen miles at least, he was the first in at the death of the deer,
being seconded by the lieutenant's gelding, which, actuated by the same
spirit, had, without a rider, followed his companion's example.

Our bridegroom, finding himself at last brought up, or, in other words,
at the end of his career, took the opportunity of this first pause, to
desire the huntsmen would lend him a hand in dismounting; and by their
condescension, safely placed on the grass, where he sat staring at
the company as they came in, with such wildness of astonishment in his
looks, as if he had been a creature of another species, dropped among
them from the clouds.

Before they had fleshed the hounds, however, he recollected himself;
and, seeing one of the sportsmen take a small flask out of his pocket
and apply it to his mouth, judged the cordial to be no other than neat
Cognac, which it really was; and expressing a desire of participation,
was immediately accommodated with a moderate dose, which perfectly
completed his recovery.

By this time he and his two horses had engrossed the attention of the
whole crowd: while some admired the elegant proportion and uncommon
spirit of the two animals, the rest contempla