THE SHIRES. 241 



gate out of the field, which is chained up, and a hurried 

 calculation as to whether it is too high for the King 

 to attempt. 



The solution is obvious. I need hardly say he 

 jumps it gallantly in his stride. It would never do, 

 you see, to let those other fellows catch him, and he 

 sails away once more with a stronger lead than at 

 first. What a hunting panorama opens on his view ! 

 a downward stretch of a couple of miles, and a gentle 

 rise beyond of more than twice that distance, consisting 

 wholly of enormous grass fields, dotted here and there 

 with single trees, and separated by long lines of fences, 

 showing black and level on that faded expanse of 

 green. The smoke from a farm-house rises white and 

 thin against the dull sky in the middle distance, and 

 a taper church-spire points to heaven from behind the 

 hill, otherwise there is not an object for miles to recall 

 everyday life ; and young Rapid's world consists at 

 this moment of two reeking pointed ears, with a vision 

 of certain dim shapes, fleeting like shadows across the 

 open swift, dusky, and noiseless as a dream. 



His blood thrills with excitement, from the crown of 

 his close-cropped head to his silken-covered heel, but 

 education is stronger than nature, and he tightens his 

 lips, perhaps to repress a cheer, while he murmurs 



R 



