CHASING AND RACING 59 



wanted. Seeing that I was a light weight with some 

 sort of reputation as a gentleman rider he showed me a 

 pretty little chestnut blood mare about fifteen hands, 

 and assured me she was " It '* for the purpose toward. 

 Well, when I accompanied Mr. Bassett to the 

 tufting stunt, I stood at the corner of the big Cloutsham 

 covert all agog ; whilst the old hounds were ** chowk- 

 ing *' away and driving the stag into the open. By- 

 and-by there was an awful crashing in the under- 

 growth, and out burst an animal, which to my startled 

 eyes appeared about the dimensions of a No. i full- 

 sized elephant. Moreover, he carried, as far as I could 

 see, " royal " honours. Not that I had much oppor- 

 tunity of counting the tines, for Daisy, the little lady 

 who bore me, and who might have been supposed to 

 be acquainted with stags in all their glory, was so 

 startled by the sudden apparition that she reared up on 

 end and fell backwards, but luckily without imposing 

 her weight on my recumbent form. As soon as I had 

 regained my breath and the saddle I began to exploit 

 my very best " View Halloas." Presently the master 

 rode up. 



** Good God, Cox, what has happened ? Are you 

 hurt ? " 



" Hurt ? No ! " 



" Then what's all the row about ? " 



" Why! '* yelled I, all excitement, " a big beast has 

 gone clear away over the open. If you get the pack 

 I can put you straight on the line.'* 



