84 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



Onward they went, over a very deep vale, with a breast- 

 high scent, taking fences high and stiff, and many of the 

 field shaken off. At length they approached the Stark, 

 according to Sir John's prediction ; and it was apparent 

 to those who knew the country for some time before they 

 came close to it, by the large willow trees on its banks, 

 whose nourishing condition showed that they were luxuriat- 

 ing in the soil which best suits them a black bog. 



" Now what is to be done here ? " said Sir John, once 

 more, to himself ; and he had the lead of the field at the time. 

 " / will have it just where yonder blackthorn-bush is grow- 

 ing on the bank, and that is sure to be the soundest part, 

 in my view ; but Frank will not be up to that trick. I'll 

 wave my hand to him, not to attempt it. " DON'T COME, 

 DON'T COME ! " roared the baronet ; " you'll be in if you 

 do " ; and Frank was not out of hearing at the time ; but 

 he might as well have made such a request to the waves 

 at the flood of a spring-tide, and at it he gallantly went. 

 The trick of the blackthorn-bush, however, was beyond 

 Frank's experience in the art of riding to hounds ; so 

 putting his mare to the left of it, where the ground was 

 rotten and tender, she fell on her head, on alighting 

 although she cleared the water and gave him an easy fall. 



" Bravo, by the heavens ! " exclaimed Sir John ; " he is 

 up again, and no harm done ; what a rider will that lad 

 make ! " 



In the next field but three, the hounds came to a check, 

 when an dclaircissemeni took place. 



"Why, Frank," said the baronet, "you are a very 

 pretty fellow ; what have you done with old Preston, on 

 Skylark 1 " 



" Oh," replied Frank, " I have not seen him since the 

 hounds left the wood. I saw you turn down the left-hand 

 riding, and, as I thought I heard the hounds turn that 

 way too, I followed you." 



"But, Frank," inquired Sir John earnestly, "are you 

 sure you are not hurt, for you got a devil of a roll at the 

 Stark ? " 



" Not a bit," answered Frank ; " it was not the mare's 

 fault, for she cleared the water well." 



"Yes, Frank," continued Sir John, "she fell from the 

 want of a little more support than you could give her 

 when she landed in that soft ground, almost a bog. But, 

 upon my word, you must not ride yet at such places as 



