j82 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



grand sight to see so many handsome dogs all of a 

 size, and all washed before coming out, rushing into 

 the underwood to start the fox. We did not get a 

 scent immediately, and rode from cover to cover ; but 

 soon the cry was raised " Tally-ho ! " the horn was 

 blown, the dogs barked, the horsemen rallied, the 

 hounds scented their way through the cover on the 

 trail of the fox, and then started in full run. I had 

 originally intended only to ride to cover to see them 

 throw off, and then make my way home, believing 

 myself unequal to the probable run ; but the chase 

 commenced, and I was in the midst of it, and, being 

 excellently mounted, nearly at the head of it. Never 

 did I see such a scamper, and never did it enter my 

 head that horses could be pushed to such speed in 

 such places. We dashed through and over bushes, 

 leaping broad ditches, splashing in brooks and mud, 

 and passing over fences as so many imaginary lines. 

 My first fence I shall not readily forget. I was near 

 Lord Milton, who was mounted on a thoroughbred 

 horse. He cleared a fence before him. My horse 

 pawed the ground and neighed. I gave him the 

 rein, and he cleared the fence. As I was up in the 

 air for one moment how I was startled to look down 

 and see there was not only a fence but a ditch ! He 

 cleared the ditch too. I have said it was my first 

 experiment. I lost my balance, was thrown to the 

 very ears of the horse, but in some way or other con- 

 trived to work my way back to the saddle without 



