RIDING TO HOUNDS 301 



rider like a shuttlecock out of harm's way, and then pitchpoles, 

 heels over head, beside him. One is a quick, frightful thing to 

 look at, from the impetus of the horse and crack of the gate, 

 but the slow, sack-like tumble of the other is a thousand times 

 more serious. When a horse is fearlessly ridden by a resolute 

 rider across a country, and over large, cramped, and dangerous 

 places, the horse feels that he must take care of himself and of 

 his rider too ; and if they fall together there is no struggle that 

 a gallant steed will not make to avoid hurting the man. Is it 

 not delightful perhaps the most delightful of all our violent 

 pursuits to feel oneself on a splendid hunter, of speed, of wind, 

 docility, and daring resolution, activity and strength, with a 

 good start, and well quit of the impediments, living and dead, 

 or animate and inanimate, to "getting away," ^the hounds 

 settled to the scent and together, and a few "cutters-down" 

 around you taking lines of their own, with a fine line of country 

 right ahead the ear open to the cheering cry of the hounds, 

 the heart in ecstasies, the eye scanning fence and field as they 

 come, to select the lightest land and the most practicable leap, 

 and the hand steady, full of ease yet firm, to time, aid, and rule 

 the horse as best may suit his powers ? Arched slightly is the 

 horse's neck ; he feels the rein, but does not pull an ounce ; you 

 cross a field full of deep grips, and at speed the horse and your 

 hand so perfectly chime together that without a change of leg or 

 labouring effort, every grip, each deep enough to have turned him 

 over had he stepped in, is taken in one regular stride, increasing 

 rather than diminishing the speed which devours distance. There 

 is a bullfinch, or black-looking hedge that you cannot see through, 

 coming ; you must choose between it and the gate ; you select 

 that which you have a fancy for ; and if it is the gate, you 

 lessen your speed a little, not to over-pace the horse, and risk 

 his getting either too near for a rise, or taking off too far from 

 it ; but if the bullfinch must be had, keep to your speed, or you 

 won't get through with impetus enough to clear the ditch 

 beyond. When resolutely ridden, the horse is aware, as soon as 

 the rider, of what he has to do ; and the instant the mind is 



