38 RIDING 



unhurt in the field, while -his horse lay with forelegs just resting 

 on the bank, and hind quarters dangling an inert mass down to 

 the bottom of the ditch. Trusty pal as he was, B. pulled up at 

 once and returned to the rescue the pair were soon joined by 

 one or two other riders, perhaps not altogether sorry for an 

 excuse to stop ; the rest of the chase swept on. The usual 

 rustic, whom a special Providence ordains shall always in case 

 of an accident arise as it were out of the earth, speedily cropped 

 up, and a committee of investigation into the extent of the 

 calamity was at once formed. There appeared but little room 

 for doubt. Deaf to all exhortations to 'come up,' and insensi- 

 ble to sharp application of the whip, the steed remained as he 

 had fallen, immovable, helpless, though seemingly without pain. 

 The verdict ' Broken his back and must be destroyed at once/ 

 was arrived at in less than no time. The rustic was forthwith 

 despatched in search of a gun, with which he in due time 

 returned an ancient muzzle-loader, looking as if it had been 

 loaded and laid by for a twelvemonth. Then arose the 

 momentous question of who was to do the bloody deed. ' Not 

 I,' said A. ' Never shot a horse in my life,' said B. The others 

 were equally reluctant, the labourer averring that he ' had never 

 so much as fired off a gun in all his born days ; ' and so the 

 discussion went on till it was decided by a majority of votes 

 that, as the victim was A.'s property, on him devolved the 

 necessity of performing the odious though humane duty. To 

 A. accordingly was handed the instrument of death, which he 

 cocked with trembling hand, and taking prolonged aim just 

 behind the ear, pulled hard on the rusty trigger. Bang ! went 

 the cap with a splendid detonation, but no puff of smoke or 

 answering report followed. The weapon had missed fire ! The 

 effect, however, was far more startling than anything they had 

 imagined, for up jumped the horse, sprang nimbly out of the 

 bottom, careered. wildly around the field, and his bridle having 

 been prudently removed lest the headstall should be cut by the 

 shot, it took four men a quarter of an hour to catch him. He 

 was only a bit blown, and finding himself in difficulties had taken 



