WARWICK WOODLANDS. 45 



Harry and I were now almost abreast, riding in parallel lines, 

 down the rich valley, very nearly at the top speed of our horses ; 

 taking fence after fence in our stroke, and keeping well up with 

 the hounds, which were running almost mute, such was the fu- 

 rious speed to which the blazing scent excited them. 



We had already passed above two-thirds of the whole dis- 

 tance that divides the range of woods, wherein we found him, 

 and the pretty village which we had constituted our head quar- 

 ters, a distance of at least three miles ; and now a very difficult 

 and awkward obstacle presented itself to our farther progress, in 

 the shape of a wide yawning brook between sheer banks of sev- 

 eral feet in height, broken, with rough and pointed stones, the 

 whole being at least five yards across. The gallant hounds 

 dashed over it ; and, when we reached it, were half way across 

 the grass field next beyond it. 



" Hold him hard, Frank," Harry shouted ; " hold him hard, 

 man, and cram him at it !" 



And so I did, though I had little hope of clearing it. I lifted 

 him a little on the snaffle, gave him the spur just as he reached 

 the brink, and with a long and swinging leap, so easy that its 

 motion was in truth scarce perceptible, he swept across it ; be- 

 fore I had the time to think, we were again going at our best 

 pace almost among the hounds. 



Over myself, I cast a quick glance back toward Harry, who, 

 by a short turn of the chase had been thrown a few yards be- 

 hind me. He charged it gallantly ; but on the very verge, 

 cowed by the brightness of the rippling water, the gray made a 

 half stop, but leaped immediately, beneath the application of 

 the galling spur ; he made a noble effort, but it was scarce a 

 thing to be effected by a standing leap, and it was with far less 

 pleasure than surprise, that I saw him drop his hind legs down 

 the steep bank, having just landed with fore-feet in the meadow. 



I was afraid, indeed, he must have had an ugly fall, but, 

 picked up quickly by the delicate and steady finger of his rider, 

 the good horse found some slight projection of the bank, where- 

 by to make a second spring. After a heavy flounder, however, 

 which must have dismounted any less perfect horseman, he re- 

 covered himself well, and before many minutes was again abreast 

 of me. 



Thus far the course of the hunted fox had lain directly home- 

 ward, down the valley ; but now the turnpike road making a 

 sudden turn crossed his line at right angles, while another nar- 



