WELLINGTON'S REASONING.
A good story is told of the Duke of Wellington while out fox-hunting. It seems the hounds had reached the bank of a small river, and the master galloped up saying,
"The dogs can't pick up the scent, your Grace."
"The fox has crossed to the other side," cried the Duke.
"Not very likely, my Lord. A fox hates water."
"Aye, aye, but he's crossed over some bridge."
"I don't believe there is a bridge," answered the master.
"Well," continued the Duke, "though I was never here before, I am sure you will find one within a mile."
Followed by the hunt they pushed on, and less than a mile off came upon a rudely constructed bridge. The dogs crossed it, again took up the scent, and killed the fox. Asked for his reason for asserting that there was a bridge near, the Duke said: "I saw three or four cottages clustered together on each bank of the river, and I thought the people living in them would be tempted by their social feelings to contrive a means of visiting each other. That same inference of mine gained me one of my battles."