140 Cross Country with Horse and Hound 



placement, and his mount, feeling considerably above 

 himself this morning, and taking alarm at this helter- 

 skelter scramble on his back and neck, gets the bit in 

 his teeth and rushes away with an idea that there is no 

 one at home. Novice was warned by the groom, but he 

 was riding at '' heedless," and what the groom said did 

 not count. 



The very first jump, however, sends him back to the 

 "fearful" mark. Now that his mount is running with 

 him, he wishes he had listened. But others are looking 

 on, and he makes no sign. After a turn or two about 

 the field, going at his own sweet will, his mount comes 

 to hand. Novice has lost his hat in the meantime. 

 He looks pale. He does not think so much of cross- 

 country riding as he did. Somehow his enthusiasm for 

 riding to hounds has nearly oozed out of him. Before 

 this he has talked hunting to every one who would listen, 

 read every author on the subject he could find by day, and 

 dreamed about it by night. He has ordered a new hunt- 

 ing-coat, boots, and breeches. But now he thinks he 

 should prefer yachting. 



The groom, bringing him his cap, inquires : " Are n't the 

 stirrups a bit long for you this morning, sir?" — a master 

 stroke of tact. Novice assents as if he had known all the 

 time what the matter was. Meantime there has been a 

 little breathing-spell for the mount, which, having rid him- 

 self of the surplus kinks in his back and legs, and feeling 

 somewhat relieved of his supercharge of strength, is now the 

 picture of docility. Novice nevertheless is trying to frame 

 a plausible excuse for sending him to the stable, when some 



