RIDING TO FOX-HOUNDS. 189 



their edges, and the brink of a brook is most reliable 

 close to some pollard or alder bush, particularly on the 

 upper side, as Mr. Bromley Davenport knew better than 

 most people, when he wrote his thrilling lines : 



" Then steady, my young one ! the place I've selected 



Above the dwarf willow, is sound, I'll be bail ; 

 With your muscular quarters beneath you collected, 

 Prepare for a rush like the limited mail ! " 



But we cannot always be on the grass, nor, happily are 

 any of us obliged, often in a life time, to ride at the 

 Whissendine ! 



In ploughed land, choose a wet furrow, for the simpk 

 reason that water would not stand in it unless the 

 bottom were hard, but if you cannot find one, nor a 

 foot-path, nor a cart-track trampled down into a certain 

 consistency, remember the fable of the hare and the 

 tortoise, pull your horse back into a trot, and never fear 

 but that you will be able to make up your leeway when 

 you arrive at better ground. It is fortunate that the 

 fences are usually less formidable here than in the pas- 

 tures, and will admit of creeping into, and otherwise 

 negotiating, with less expenditure of power, so you may 

 travel pretty safely, and turn at pleasure, shorter than 

 the hounds. 



There are plough countries, notably in Gloucestershire 



