THE SHIRES. 239 



the next leap a wide ditch, a high staked-and-bound 

 hedge, coarse, rough and strong, with a drop and what 

 you please, on the other side. This last treat proves 

 to be a bowed-out oak-rail, standing four feet from the 

 fence. "The King," full of courage, and going fast, 

 bounds over the whole with his hind legs tucked under 

 him like a deer, ready, but not requiring, to strike back, 

 while two of Rapid's young friends with whom he 

 dined yesterday, and one he will meet at dinner to-day, 

 fly it in similar form, nearly alongside. An ugly, over- 

 grown bullfinch, with a miniature ravine, or, as it is here 

 called, " a bottom," appears at the foot of the hill they 

 are now descending, and, as there seems only one 

 practicable place, these four reckless individuals at once 

 begin to race for the desirable spot. The King's turn 

 of speed serves him again ; covering five- or six-and- 

 twenty feet, he leaps it a length in front of the nearest 

 horse, and a couple of strides before the other two, 

 while loud reproachful outcries resound in the rear 

 because of Harmony's narrow escape the King's 

 forefoot, missing that priceless bitch by a yard ! 



Our young gentleman, having got a lead now, begins 

 to ride with more judgment. He trots up to a stile and 

 pops over in truly artistic form ; better still, he gives the 

 hounds plenty of room on the fallow beyond, where 



