THE REAL LION OF THE DAY. 95 



where they had found their first in the morning. Beauchamp, 

 with his horse quite fresh from his short respite, when assisting 

 the fallen hero, went rapidly away from the rest (whose horses 

 were already in distress from the pace up to the road), and was 

 standing on the lawn with the hounds (the fox being suspended 

 in a tree) baying around, at least five minutes before any other 

 horseman made his appearance ; Mr. and Mrs. Compton, with 

 the children and all the domestics, enjoying the scene. 



To Beauchamp' s surprise, the first man up was Markham, 

 who exclaimed, " Eh ! aw ! Beauchamp, 'pon honour, gave 'em 

 all the slip — hurrah ! — awful pace, 'pon my soul, all right — won 

 my bet!" 



" But what a figure you are, Markham ! Where's your hat ?" 



" In the brook, old fellow, where I left half-a-dozen with 

 their horses ; got out myself on the right side ; up the hill like 

 wildfire ; passed the great man on the road — very squeamish 

 indeed ; cut into an old lane, leaving Burnett, Tyler, and 

 Gwynne rasping away cross country to my right, and here I 

 am, first for once in my life ; and now, Beauchamp, give me 

 the brush, which I would not lose for a five-pound note." 



" I have promised it to Mrs. Compton," replied Beauchamp, 

 " who was the first in at the finish." 



" Then," replied that lady, " I willingly waive my claim in 

 favour of Captain Markham, as a little compensation for the 

 loss of his hat." 



" Thank you, Mrs. Compton, for your kind consideration," 

 replied the Captain, with a low bow ; and the said appendage 

 was accordingly handed to him by Charley, who pocketed a 

 sovereign for the present. 



" Won ten yellow boys, to-day," whispered the Captain. 



"How so, sir?" inquired Charley. 



" By your master beating the Leicestershire hero." 



" Glad to hear it, sir ; wish you had won fifty." 



"Have you seen anything of Bushton?" inquired Mrs. 

 Compton. 



" Oh, yaas," replied Markham ; " left him on the road ; bad 

 fall — ribs smashed, I suspect, or something of that sort — looked 

 seedy — very." 



" I hope not seriously hurt," said Mrs. Compton, anxiously. 



" Oh, no, can't be — never is hurt, by his own account — only 

 queerish." 



Preceded by Sir Francis, Tyler, Fred Beauchamp, Gwynne, 

 and Conyers, who were in the first flight, the lion of the day 



