48 THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 



Then, as lie reached and galloped over two of the tail 

 hounds, who fled out of his way howling dismally, and each 

 holding up an injured paw, the runaway's stride began to 

 shorten. He was beginning to find that he had had about 

 enough of it, but the blue blood of Capulet flowed in his veins, 

 and as yet forbade the thought of giving in. The pack, how- 

 ever, running with a burning scent, their hackles up, and with 

 their now beaten fox actually in view, again drew out from the 

 pursuing horse. Blowing hard now, and labouring consider- 

 ably in the heavy going, Marmion plodded gamely and 

 doggedly on ; then, right across their line, they confronted a 

 post and rails, fringing a big, full dyke. Gallantly did the 

 good chestnut gather himself together for his effort as he 

 cocked his ears at the formidable ol)stacle. But pace, and 

 the deep, holding ground they had been travelling over, 

 had fairly pumped him out, and to the unspeakable joy of 

 his master (?), discretion came to the horse's aid, and he began 

 to pull up. Too late, alas ! for although, as he got within a 

 length of the rails, he resolutely planted both forefeet in the 

 soft, slippery ground before him, ploughing up long furrows 

 in his efforts to stop himself, the treacherous, clay surface 

 gave his ' brake power ' no chance to act, and sliding up 

 against the top rail until all his weight was on it, the timber, 

 unequal to the strain, snapped, and let both horse and rider 

 helplessly and hopelessly over head, into the dark and murky 

 waters beyond. Mr. Travers Algernon Binkie's first run with 

 hounds had ended. 



