THE BODDINQTON GALLOP. 411 



they trooped into the broad double of the plantation-belt. 

 Quite strong enough was the jump in : awkward and hindering 

 was the jump out. You landed in among pine-trees, and ran 

 your head into a wall of briars. Mr. Corbett had slanted off to 

 the right, but with little better success, for he too was to be 

 seen harboured helplessly among the timber, till young Cox 

 (acting as first whip during Bonner's unlucky absence and 

 acting the part right sharply and well) came cruising down the 

 trees and spotted an outlet good enough for the little black 

 mare and her gratified following. 



Meanwhile the Master and his section (the Master having 

 already forgotten the pain and bruise of a badly-crushed leg) 

 had pierced the bulwark on the left, and now came across the 

 front in full swing Mr. Beatty still leading, and a farmer, or 

 some one in inufti (I wish I knew who) on a very miniature 

 bay making a trio to Lord Chesham and the hog-maned black, 

 Mrs. Whaley, too, joined in ; and the four sailed on, dipping in 

 and out of the close ridge-and -furrow like seabirds on a chop- 

 ping sea. The Old Customer was on familiar ground. So 

 were we. Was not this the line, fence for fence (and all the 

 easier no doubt for previous encounter), that we rode more than 

 a year ago from Boddington Gorse ? But after the first few 

 meadows, the wheels seemed to leave the ruts, i.e., the gaps 

 disappeared, and the country stood out in the full honest 

 strength of which the Boddington farmers rightly boast. " Did 

 you find it strong enough ? " I heard one of them query after- 

 wards, with a laugh all over his jovial face. " Strong enough" - 

 yes, indeed, but for the pace. And pace, somehow, never fails 

 to bring the easiest places handy. Across the flat meadows- 

 (flat all but for their contrary ridge-and-furrow) scent burned 

 brightly as ever, but the thick hedgerows rather hindered the 

 eager, jostling pack. So there was time to pull, almost time to 

 breathe time enough, even, to allow of a good man dismount- 

 ing to a broken gate. " Not bad for a first and only day with 

 the Bicester." This from Major Tomkinson, as he passed to 

 the front on a tall striding bay, that to my eye looked like 



