THE SHORTEST DAY 



was seen poising himself preparatory to making 

 a descent upon the field. Down he came with 

 a roar that shook the earth to the very centre, 

 and sent the field flying in all directions. Mr. 

 Jorrocks, who was on foot among his hounds, 

 immediately rushed to his horse, which Ben had 

 let loose, but making a bad shot at the stirrup, 

 he became a point (Fappui for the bull, who 

 after him with a vigour and determination that 

 looked very like a finisher. Our master was 

 carried, clinging to the neck, half across the 

 field in a 'now on, now off*' sort of way that 

 would have made any one feel very uncomfort- 

 able who had an annuity depending on his life. 

 At last he got fairly into his saddle, and setting 

 himself down to ride, he threw his heart boldly 

 over a stiff 'on and off,' and shoved Xerxes at 

 it in a way that proved too many for the bull. 

 Ploughing up the pasture with his feet, in his 

 effort to stop himself as he neared it, he tossed 

 his great wide-horned head in the air, and utter- 

 ing a frightful bellow that thundered through 



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