COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 245 



Hills) of Auchterarder. I immediately left the road 

 and made for the hill-top pointed out, when I found 

 myself in a lovely wild grass hunting country. I saw 

 a good-looking fox cover here and there, and a 

 shepherd said there were plenty of foxes — of this, 

 however, I have some doubts from what he said 

 afterwards. On I went over that lovely turf for 

 four miles without a check. Then I came to a wire 

 fence ; I drew the staples of the two top wires, stood 

 on top of them, and when these were pressed down 

 hoped that ' Crump ' would jump the others, but 

 nothing would induce him to do so. I could get 

 nothing to break or cut the wires, so I tied the two 

 top wires with my pocket-handkerchief and rode my 

 horse over. On we went again for another mile and 

 a half, when the same process of getting over the 

 ' wires had to be repeated. These being higher and 

 a soft take off, we struck all round, and felt much 

 like falling. 



" Soon after this I crossed a high road which I 

 understood afterwards went between Dunning and 

 Rumbling Bridge, On I went again over those 

 lovely grass hills and valleys, still sticking to my 

 point, when I came to a hill farm-house. Here I 

 got information that I was ' all right '. The farmer 

 was most civil, and knew all about my whereabouts. 

 I then passed through a romantic green narrow 

 glen ; again crossed a wire fence, and took my last 

 jump in my pink coat over a low hill gate. Auchter- 

 arder soon came in view, and I looked back to 

 twelve miles' ride over the most delightful grass 



