MRS. H. H. ELDER I4I 



Into the woods by another route. I Hke these (lodgements ; makes 

 people come to the meet — to find at once by the Butts " a leash." Hounds 

 running on our right, the huntsman galloping parallel with us ; a halloa 

 on the left ; half-a-dozen couple of hounds crossing our ride in full cry ; the 

 Master, Mr, Arkwright, muttering "they are on another fox"; and then for 

 ten minutes ensued a stampede worthy of a panic-stricken crowd in Chicago. 

 Men rode wildly in all directions, no face wore a smile, and ^' Atva citra 

 sedet post omnes eqnites." Pulling up I watched the game go on, thinking 

 hounds must come back. Not so, thought " Peter," (that's my other horse, 

 you must ken, vide friend Rusticus again). " Where are the hounds ? " said 

 an ex-Master and a gallant Captain. I felt quite flattered as I pointed out 

 the line, and a company of fifty charged down that ride straight for the 

 polo ground ; while on the left, waiting for hounds that never came, and 



Mrs. H. H. Elder on "Sweep" 



eventually riding round by another track, came another squad of horsemen, 

 led by one who, I thought, was never left behind in the woods. Tell it not, 

 nor publish it abroad, that Harry Sworder was thus belated. After 

 waiting as long as most, or as long as " Peter " would stand it, I trotted along 

 after H. S., and came out near the polo ground, saw the slope from Gaynes 

 Park House to the far coverts covered with skirmishers, spotted an 

 ex-Master intently listening in the middle of the park, noted beyond the 

 line of trees the bob of various hats ; and, avoiding the hill, rode for them, 

 to overtake them near Coopersale Bridge, and to find that after all it was 

 the Master and his following whom I had credited with hounds. Light 

 cavalry galloping up from the Ongar Road, videttes flying forward to 

 Coopersale, everyone asking and no one knowing — where were the hounds ? 

 Back by instinct to the Big Woods, and to catch the gleam of a scarlet 

 coat * nigh Rough Talleys, to breathe hopefully and learn contentedly that 



* The huntsman's. 



