

MUSIC IN DRIBLETS. 229 



very trying well, here I was about to let go in the 

 superlative degree to see a lot of ribbon- vendors 

 and bankers' clerks, with a modicum of juvenile saw- 

 bones, vets and legalised robbers (attorneys), trying 

 their best to ride over the ornaments of the hunt. 



But let me cast back. We were not kept long 

 waiting: through the long grass first one head and then 

 another made its appearance, and soon after were 

 not only the leaders in full view, but from twelve 

 to fifteen couple more, closely up to their sterns. 

 It was a grand sight, and right willingly would I 

 have cheered the gallant hounds on, but that I 

 feared such a course would have been injurious, to 

 them, until they had passed forward of where we stood. 

 That the scent was hot burning there could be 

 no doubt, for the pace was terrific, every head being 

 up and every stern down, while the music was 

 reduced to driblets. 



Although the day had so far waned, if we had 

 had horses saddled, " Chummy " and self would have 

 been in the " pig-skin " in a minute, and in spite 

 of ant-hills, porcupine and meer-kat holes, seen the 

 finish ; but, alas ! our nags were half-a-mile in the 

 rear, and to call them up in time was utterly im- 



