A BURSTING FALL. 



149 



man ding officer shout the order, adding, somewhat sullenly, 

 " Why, confound the fellow, I believe he's afraid." " Even a 

 worm will turn," we are told. But Bitters was up in arms at 

 once. The leaden hue which had stolen over his wan face at 

 the first suggestion of the timber flushed suddenly to an 

 alcoholic purple ; and forgetting his deafness, he flung the 

 insinuation from him with hot indignation. " No," he retorted, 

 " I ain't afraid, and that's all about it. But I've larned to 

 know when the beggars are going to fall." 



A BURSTING FALL. 



" A bursting fall," is a term with which most of us have 

 acquired familiarity, as a fashion of speech as well as a too 

 possible incident in our several careers. But seldom have I seen 

 it more sharply illustrated than in the case of a bold brown 



hunter to-day, who met the turf with such concussion as to 

 send saddle, rider and all, a full furrow's width across the field. 

 He then, of course, proceeded to take his place at the head of 



