LORD HELMSLEY HORRIFIES HIS FATHER 39 



on, Jack, and you'll sartainlie kill him ! " the excitement 

 became very intense. 



"This way," cries the village butcher, leading them 

 on through a fold-yard into a long pasture field some 

 three-quarters of a mile from the wood. " Shove 'em 

 on, Jack ; he's dead beat. Yonder he is ! " pointing to 

 the fox dragging wearily along, just a field ahead. 



Out comes Jack's horn, and hounds fly to him as he 

 takes his horse short by the head and crams him forward 

 at his best remaining speed down the long pasture. 

 The rest follow ; but lo ! Jack pulls up short. 



"What's the matter?" cry several voices. 



" Dang me, if that aren't ower much of a good thing ! " 

 says he ; and indeed it appeared so, for we were fronted 

 by an absolutely impervious bullfinch, one solitary gap in 

 which was fenced to the height of fully six feet by the 

 most solid-looking rails. 



" Oh, we'll never stop now ! " cried Lord Helmsley, 

 and without a moment's hesitation he rode his grey 

 horse at the formidable rails. 



"Stop him, stop him! he'll be killed!" yelled his 

 agonised parent. " Will nobody stop him ? D n 

 those men of mine ! Where are they ? " 



But, of course, nobody interposed, and the youngster's 

 horse cleared the rails without touching them. 



I knew my mare to be a wonder at timber thanks 

 to Bob Colling so I must needs have it too, and just 

 landed after hitting it somewhat heavily behind. I 

 looked back and saw Jack Parker dismounted and pulling 

 down the top rail. This was enough. "Forward!" is 

 the word, and as I entered the very last field before 

 Gilling Wood, together with Lord Helmsley, hounds 

 were just running into their fox, who died with the haven 



