20 THE WAEWICKSHIRE HUNT. (1878 



The rail of that oxer looks stiff, and looks new, 

 And there may he another beyond it 'tis true : 

 " For yon cannot see over, you cannot see through." 

 The ditch on the lauding- side 's tangled and wide, 

 Yet our Master has cleared the whole lot in his stride ; 

 It would take half the whole- — such a yawner to fill — 

 Of the customers hustling down Shuckburgh Hill. 



That blackthorn in vain for a gap we descry, 



And the stile in the corner looks ugly and high. 



There's no helj) for it, though, " Tou must go if you die ! " 



With a rap and a scramble, we're over, my friend ; 



Ain't you thanking your stars you're not end over end ? 



But still pounding away, like the bones in a mill, 



With the steam at high pressure from Shucklmrgh Hill. 



Across the wide pastures of Flecknoe we flew. 

 And none within hail but the good men and true ; 

 We have come for four miles, and with never a pull, 

 Wliilst the brook is below us, deep, swollen, and full. 

 With his face all agrin, " Are you goin'," says Will,* 

 " To ride at the Brannston from Shnckburgh Hill." 



" Why, of course ! Does he think that our hearts are of lead, 



When the beauties are streaming like wildfire ahead ? " 



And the Empress is over ! — so charge it in line ! 



'Tis no twelve-foot imposture, no dread Whissendine ! 



No winter-full torrent, no summer-dried rill. 



But the liottomless Braimston, near Shuckburgh Hill. 



One snatch at her bridle, one fling of her head, 



And my darling across the wide chasm has sped — 



Never changing a foot ! 'Tis like flight through the air. 



To ride o'er a country this gallant old mare. 



You might carry a bumper, and ne'er a drop spill, 



As she skims o'er the fences from Shuckburgh Hill. 



There's a check for a moment, but Orvis is there. 

 And appears on the scene, as if dropped from the air. 

 One wave of his arm, and the scattering pack 

 Have flown to his summons, with Will at their back; 

 While Jack'sf somewhere handy — in readiness — till 

 His aid is required from Shuckburgh Hill. 



* William Shepherd, fii-st whip, now huntsman to the Worcestershire. 

 t Jack Boore, the second whip, afterwai-ds first wliip :nid K. H. to the Warwick- 

 shire, now huntsman to the Cheshire Hounds. 



