DISCRETION. 139 



to the admiration of an indiscreet friend on a rash horse 

 who spoils a good hat and utters an evil execration 

 while trying to follow our example. Or it may be, 

 rejoicing to find ourselves on arable land, that actually 

 rides light, and yet carries a scent, 



" Solid and tall, 

 The rasping wall " 



challenges us a quarter of a mile off to face it or go 

 home, for it offers neither gate nor gap, and seems to 

 meet the sky-line on either side* I do not know whether 

 others are open to the same deception, but to my own 

 eye, a wall appears more, and a hedge less, than its real 

 height at a certain distance off. The former, however, 

 is a most satisfactory leap when skilfully accomplished, 

 and not half so arduous as it looks. 



" Have it ! " says Valour. " Yes, but very slow," 

 replies Discretion. And, sure enough, we calm the free 

 generous horse into a trot, causing him to put his very 

 nose over the obstacle before taking off; when bucking 

 into the air, like a deer, he leaves it behind him with 

 little more effort than a girl puts to her skipping-rope. 

 The height an experienced wall-jumper will clear seems 

 scarcely credible. A fence of this description, which 

 measurement proves to be fully six feet, was jumped by 

 the well-known Colonel Miles three or four years ago 



