A MORNING'S CUBBING 41 



After refreshing man and horse, we started with 

 Jack, who had opportunely turned up, picked up 

 the two missing hounds on the way, and reached 

 kennels at 8 P.M. 



Billy emerged from the stables, where he had 

 been watching his mare being dressed over, looking 

 very much injured. He had come home early in 

 the afternoon in the nearest approach to bad temper 

 possible to him, and had received scant sympathy 

 from the household. He was not improved by the 

 remark of a young girl, who innocently inquired 

 if he had had a nice run ; and as he had been 

 engaged in chasing his horse for the best part of 

 three hours, he could not reciprocate the smile that 

 flitted over Joanna's face ; nor, had he known she 

 had prompted the question to the young lady, could 

 he have immediately forgiven her. 



At nine-o'clock dinner, after hearing my tale, he 

 told his. 



He declared he had ridden out to stop tail hounds 

 from running a hare that had jumped up from her 

 form in front of their noses, when his mare blundered 

 elbow deep into a soft spot, and shot him over her 

 head. He was up as soon as the mare, but could 

 not catch her. Just as he had cornered the *'jade" 

 between two wire fences, *^ the long-legged besom 

 that she is " hoisted herself over with a buck and 

 made off. 



^' How and where did you catch her ? " 



'^ Caught her in a stackyard two hours later in the 

 middle of the next parish ; must have jumped about 

 six fences to get there, and after a wide forward 

 cast round, brought her home ; spoiled a hat and 



