FOX AND HOUND 



goes to inform his comrades, as it were, that the 

 villain is on before them, and most musically do the 

 light notes of Vocal and Venus fall on the ear of those 

 who may be within reach to catch them. But who is 

 so fortunate in this second burst, nearly as terrible as 

 the first ? Our fancy supplies us again, and we think 

 we could name them all. If we look to the left, 

 nearly abreast of the pack, we see six men going 

 gallantly, and quite as straight as the hounds them- 

 selves are going ; and on the right are four more, 

 riding equally well, though the former have rather the 

 best of it, owing to having had the inside of the hounds 

 at the last two turns, which must be placed to the 

 chapter of accidents. A short way in the rear, by no 

 means too much so to enjoy this brilliant run, are the 

 rest of the elite of the field, who had come up at the 

 first check ; and a few who, thanks to the goodness of 

 their steeds, and their determination to be with the 

 hounds, appear as if dropped from the clouds. Some 

 however, begin to show symptoms of distress. Two 

 horses are seen loose in the distance — a report is flying 

 about that one of the field is badly hurt, and something 

 is heard of a collar-bone being broken, others say it is 

 a leg ; but the pace is too good to enquire. A cracking 

 of rails is now heard, and one gentleman's horse is to 

 be seen resting, nearly balanced, across one of them, his 

 rider being on his back in the ditch, which is on the 

 landing side. '*Who is he?" says Lord BrudeneP 



^ Afterwards Lord Cardigan. 



22 



