140 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 



start, and have to follow on the line, keep pounding away without 

 giving their horses a chance of catching their wind — a very material 

 thing in a quick run. 



A check of a few minutes, affording a good horse time, has 

 enabled many a one to stay to the end of the longest run, when an 

 equally good animal has been " pumped " in the same thing for want 

 of such a respite from his exertions. 



Again, a great point to be observed is to maintain such a position 

 as will enable the rider to turn with the hounds at the right 

 moment ; resolutely resisting any temptation in order to cut off 

 ground, to turn too soon, and risk spoiling sport by crossing their 

 line. 



It should be remembered that it is quite as easy to jump the 

 fences when one is in the front rank, as it is when sculling along with 

 the rear guard, and much safer, because the ground always affords 

 better foothold and landing, when it has not been poached up by a 

 niunber of people jumping. This is especially the case after a frost, 

 when the going is at all greasy. 



Even in cases when hounds slip an entire field, and get the fun all 

 to themselves, still those who get away well at first will have all the 

 best of the " stern chase." 



If, fortunately, our fair tyro is well up when a fox is run into and 

 killed, she should carefully avoid getting too close to the hounds 

 when they are at their broken-up prey. There are always keen eyes 

 about that can discern on these occasions whether a lady has been 

 riding straight and well, and there will not be wanting some gallant 

 cavalier to offer her the tribute due to her " dash " and good work- 

 manship, in the shape of that coveted trophy of the chase, the brush. 

 There may, however, be more than one lady up on these occasions (I 

 have seen several after very good things), and, as a rule, the brush is 

 most likely to be offered to the lady of the highest rank. These 

 trophies, therefore, are scarcely to be counted upon as a reward for 

 €ven the best and straightest riding — the less so as of late years it 

 has been observed that in most cases a very stout and straight- 

 necked fox succeeds in eluding his pursuers, and " lives to fight 

 another day." 



