142 Cross Country with Horse and Hound 



going to put in another stride before he jumped. He is 

 not prepared, is out of balance. His mount catches a 

 knee on the bank, ploughs a hole through the top of it 

 with his hind legs, and horse and rider are both in the 

 ditch. 



"Nothing better could have happened," reiterates our 

 experienced rider as he sees the mount racing for the barn 

 and Novice brushing the soil from his clothes before he is 

 fairly on his feet. " Don't give up defeated." 



"Not much," says Novice, with chattering teeth. 



" At it to within the last few strides," advises the expe- 

 rienced friend, " and mind he does n't refuse with you at 

 the last moment." 



It is timely advice again, for refuse he does, and Novice 

 shuts up and opens like a jack-knife while going through 

 the air. He lands, however, on all fours across the ditch, 

 while his horse stands with his feet braced against the 

 bottom of the bank. The law of self-preservation has 

 stood by him, and he saves himself a bad jar, if nothing 

 more, by landing on his hands and feet and scrambling on 

 out of the way of his mount should he be turning a somer- 

 sault after him. 



Novice's history is typical. During the first falls reason 

 and instinct disappear. The ground comes up and hits one 

 in the face. The time between leaving the saddle and 

 landing is a blank. Fear cuts off all the faculties. But 

 after a few croppers without serious injury, fear has less 

 hold. Self-preservation begins to work. One falls semi- 

 intelligently, even retaining presence of mind enough to 

 hold on to the reins and take them along over the horse's 



