102 THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 



painted gate, all put up in the jumping paddock attached 

 to the house, Trousers was invited to get up and " satisfy 

 himself." 



Trousers felt quite satisfied to remain on foot, if the truth 

 must be confessed, but inspired by the sherry, and urged 

 unto noble deeds by Jack Dashwood, he determined to mount 

 the ' fiery untamed.' 



So the exchange was effected, i.e., Travers Algernon Binkie 

 vice Tom, resigned. Mr. Binkie rode away up the paddock, 

 wrestling with the mental problem of whether he should, or 

 should not, attempt one of the ' leps ' — the lowest, for choice. 

 But long before he could arrive at any solution of the diffi- 

 culty, Fate took the matter in hand, as she does so often and 

 in so many unsuspected ways. The veteran hunter, to whom 

 the jumping of fences had grown so much a matter of habit 

 that he merely regarded the aftair with a bored air, and as 

 if he wished to get done with what he doubtless considered 

 tomfoolery, as soon as possible, suddenly cocked his ears at 

 the flight of hurdles towards which Travers had unconsciously 

 been riding him, broke into a canter, and before our friend 

 could snatch at his head to stop him, was gently over and 

 blobbing away on the far side. 



So easy had been the action that Mr. Binkie had hardly 

 been shifted a bit — for him — a matter which afforded him a 

 profound sense of gratification. Like a wise and prudent 

 man, he resolved not to risk anything further in the saltatory 

 way, and returned at once to where Dashwood and the dealer 

 stood in conference. 



"What are you going to take for the horse?" Jack had 

 asked as soon as Travers had ridden out of earshot. 



