538 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



are mere skilful shirkers) — it was funny to see his little horse 

 play with a big one as we are led to believe a rhinoceros fights 

 with an elephant. He landed with head very low — happily 

 for him — tucked it completely under a big horse galloping 

 across him — lifted the other's girths to his own topmost 

 height — both spun round on their respective axes, and both 

 went contentedly on, in the proper direction. But I shall not 

 get through the run at this rate — Hounds left the Old Road 

 where it enters the fields, and, on a good scent, drove, almost 

 of course, up to Crick Covert. But, without entering, they 

 skirted and held on — swinging risrhtward from the gorse. The 

 top of the hill divided the better men, who knew not or would 

 not know, the country, and the more clever gallopers. And 

 the former competed closely among themselves as to right of 

 breaking the ox-rail on the summit. (Blessed and pure is a 

 good ash-rail in these iron times.) No great hurry, but fast 

 hunting, over and beyond the new railway above Kilsby — ■ 

 where the pace freshened and difficulties thickened. Oh, what 

 a country ! But you had to take it edgeways, and corner ways, 

 and roundabout ways. Give us a chance — good farmers, good 

 fellows. Let the blacksmith go round. We can only live once- 

 and die once, it is true — but it would be no pleasure to you to- 

 have a man carried dead to your door ? Yet hounds ran 

 charmingly ; and we rode to them where we could — the sturdy- 

 timber and blackthorn seeming quite strong enough to need no- 

 extra protection whatever. Who made the best of their way 

 'twould be impossible to say. There were veterans of the soil — 

 of all sizes and weight — may I say it? — from Mr. Muntz to 

 Mr. Wedge. There was an ex-master pinned down by his coat 

 tails after a cropper at timber, and fair ladies fluttering over 

 sizeable oxers as lightly as if habits were wings. There were 

 newcomers from Ireland (and I shall take the liberty of 

 appending a note of admiration to the name of Captain Steeds) ; 

 there were men who had learned to ride in the Harrow Vale ;. 

 and there were strangers in mufti, apparently underhorsed, but 

 very obviously capable. 



