Notable Runs 43 



woods, and after him streamed the hunt pell-mell 

 along a stony valley. 



It was not Anne's intention to be in at a second 

 death that day, and she deliberately checked the 

 grey's enthusiasm when he would have borne her 

 headlong through the scampering crowd. To his 

 indignation, instead of pursuing the chase in the 

 valley, she headed him up a hill. He protested 

 with vehemence, threatening to rebel outright, but 

 Anne was determined, and eventually she had her 

 way. Up the hill they went. 



It was a scramble to reach the top, for the ground 

 was steep and sloppy, but on the summit of the 

 ridge progress was easier. She gave the grey the 

 rein, and he carried her forward at a canter. From 

 here she saw the last of the horsemen below her 

 sweep round the curve towards Baronmead, and the 

 hubbub growing fainter in the distance told her that 

 the hounds were already plunging through the 

 woods. Ahead of her the ridge culminated in a 

 bare knoll whence it was evident that she could 

 overlook a considerable stretch of country. She 

 urged her animal towards it. 



The mist was thickening in the valley, and it 

 had begun to drizzle. The watch on her wrist said 

 two o'clock, and she determined to turn her face 

 homewards as soon as she had taken this final 

 glimpse. 



The grey, snorting and sweating, stumbled up 

 the slippery ascent. He was plainly disgusted with 

 his rider's tactics. They arrived upon the summit, 

 and Anne brought him to a standstill. But though 

 she still heard vague shoutings below her, the mist 

 had increased so much in the few minutes they had 

 taken over the ascent that she could discern nothing. 

 Her horse was winded after the climb, however, 



