THE SILVER FOX 73 



throw it, and the young horse swung round 

 with a jerk that perceptibly tried his rider's 

 seat. Lady Susan was close in his tracks, 

 and, far from trying to stop her horse, she 

 gave him a vigorous blow with her hunting- 

 crop, and drove him full pace at the fence 

 and its defender. The grey horse jumped 

 like a deer, and Quin perforce sprang aside, 

 cursing vilely and threatening Lady Susan 

 with the stone. She was gone in an instant, 

 and, before Glasgow had pulled his horse 

 together, Slaney and Isabella were charging 

 the place, Slaney with a white face and a 

 crooked hat, Isabella with her long nose 

 poked well forward to take her distance. 

 With an economical yet sufficient hoist of 

 her hind quarters the old mare was over, 

 while Tom Quin remained staring as if 

 stupefied by the feat. 



" Go away, Tom ! " called Slaney, as she 

 passed him. *' Don't mind them — it's no 

 use — go home ! " 



She seemed to herself to be calling out 

 of a dream ; yet she had never felt so 



