But Roundings, Tom and Bob, no gate, Nor hedge, nor ditch could stay; O’er all they went, and did the work Of leap-years in a day! And by their side see Huggins ride, As fast as he could speed; For, like Mazeppa, he was quite At mercy of his steed. No means he had, by timely check, The gallop to remit, For firm and fast, between his teeth, The biter held the bit. Trees raced along, all Essex fled Beneath him as he sate; He never saw a county go At such a county rate! “Hold hard! hold hard! you’ll lame the dogs!” Quoth Huggins, “so I do; I’ve got the saddle well in hand, And hold as hard as you!” Good Lord! to see him ride along, And throw his arms about, As if with stitches in the side That he was drawing out! And now he bounded up and down, Now like a jelly shook; Till bumped and galled--yet not where Gall For bumps did ever look! And rowing with his legs the while, As tars are apt to ride; With every kick he gave a prick Deep in the horse’s side! But soon the horse was well avenged For cruel smart of spurs, For, riding through a moor, he pitched His master in a furze! Where, sharper set than hunger is, He squatted all forlorn; And, like a bird, was singing out While sitting on a thorn! Right glad was he, as well might be, Such cushion to resign; “Possession is nine points,” but his Seems more than ninety-nine. Yet worse than all the prickly points That entered in his skin, His nag was running off the while The thorns were running in! Now had a Papist seen his sport, Thus laid upon the shelf, Although no horse he had to cross, He might have crossed himself. Yet surely still the wind is ill That none can say is fair; A jolly wight there was, that rode Upon a sorry mare! A sorry mare, that surely came Of pagan blood and bone; For down upon her knees she went To many a stock and stone! Now seeing Huggins’ nag adrift, This farmer, shrewd and sage, Resolved, by changing horses here, To hunt another stage! Though felony, yet who would let Another’s horse alone, Whose neck is placed in jeopardy By riding on his own? And yet the conduct of the man Seemed honest-like and fair; For he seemed willing, horse and all, To go before the _mare_! So up on Huggins’ horse he got, And swiftly rode away, While Huggins mounted on the mare Done brown upon a bay! And off they set in double chase, For such was fortune’s whim, The farmer rode to hunt the stag, And Huggins hunted him! Alas! with one that rode so well In vain it was to strive; A dab was he, as dabs should be-- All leaping and alive.