32 MEMORIES OF MEN AND HORSES 



perseverance ; while long habits of self-reliance, gained 

 on the many occasions when they had to make out 

 their own fox where no huntsman could get near them, 

 had taught them to cast themselves in a manner that 

 their more fashionable brethren might do well to 

 imitate, instead of throwing up their heads and look- 

 ing for assistance as soon as ever there is a difficulty. 



But behold them now, just flashing into cover, and 

 see them, as it were, twinkling among the trees, the 

 busy sterns betokening the keen desire for sport. Old 

 Jack's face beams as he watches and encourages them, 

 with rather more than necessary clamour. Lord Fever- 

 sham has come to a small rail that he must needs get 

 over and is pouring forth curses to the empty air because 

 the two men whom he has brought out for this very 

 purpose are not there to pull it down for him. 



They arrive in due course, having lagged behind on 

 the supposition that someone will stand treat at the 

 wayside hotel, and now as they canter up, wiping their 

 mouths, they encounter a torrent of wordy wrath from 

 his Lordship ; but they seem used to it, and quietly 

 pull the rail out with unperturbed countenances, while 

 their dread Lord passes on. 



A few moments later I myself came upon Lord 

 Feversham behind a hedge, applying himself diligently 

 to a large flask a rather strange performance, seeing 

 that the day had only just begun, and my face must 

 have indicated surprise, for Lord Feversham remarked, 

 by way of explanation : " Ah ! when you get to my age 

 you'll find it necessary to take some jumping powder 

 before starting ! " 



I hardly knew what to reply, but I admired the 

 frankness with which the explanation was given, 



