HOW WE FALL— AND HOW PREVENT IT. 199 



escape to all whose longing fancy had brought to mind ford to 

 the left or bridge to the right.' The leading hounds were 

 streaming up the yonder pasture, the tail hounds just shaking 

 the glistening water from their ribs. Mr. Lort Philips was 

 driving a shower of spray heavenward ; but, falling on the 

 further bank, was in his saddle again as he made way for his 

 whip to land in his tracks. Left of him some fifty yards, the 

 brook banks were just clear above the flood. Here was the 

 safest jump on this hand, quickly seized by Mr. Frank Osborn 

 and one or two others — till this point of exit became choked, 

 in common with nearly every other tempting spot near by. 

 On the right, meanwhile, the twelve-foot brimmer (it could 

 scarcely have been more) had been skimmed by Mr. Greig, 

 Capt. Middleton, Capt, Beatty, Messrs. Stirling-Stewart, Home, 

 Guthrie, and the farmer who pushes his three excellent chest- 

 nut horses along so well. These, with at the most four others, 

 succeeded in crossing the Rubicon before it became impassable, 

 filled bank high by its too usual complement of men and horses. 

 Bearing to the right at once, recrossing the brook this time by 

 a bridge, hounds raced their fox round to Bilton Grange — the 

 coverts of which he entered in view in twelve minutes, over 

 grass and water. Killed him ten minutes after. 



HOW WE FALL— AND HOW PREVENT IT. 



It were almost well to have sounded the little Tiber of 

 Northern Warwickshire on Thursday of last week, that at least 

 some active memory — even if nursed with gruel and hot 

 flannels — might help over the stagnate waste of Friday and 

 Saturday. Hard as iron, bright as steel, the former morning 

 set its seal upon kennel and stable door, bidding us turn where 

 else we might for exercise or interest — for this was to be a 

 Christmastide of the true old fashion. The holiday can, per- 

 haps, be well afforded by many. For most men's studs are all 

 too small for their ambition ; and the wear and tear of several 



