70 HOUND AND HORN 



^' I didn't have my lunch till after the donkey." And, 

 " The double was just about the same time as the 

 donkey." 



" But where was the tremendous double ? " again 

 I asked, while various items of information, relevant 

 or otherwise, were rapidly volunteered. '' Was it in 

 the afternoon, or in the morning hunt ? " 



" The afternoon, I think," replied Miss Anstruther ; 

 " at least, Lord Charles had his second horse, and 

 he and Major Thurston were at it first, and I came 

 next, the first woman, except that Mrs. Black, who 

 had it lower down at a much easier place, Mr. Kerr 

 told me. I saw her in trouble soon after, and I 

 don't think she can go much without a pilot. Yes 

 it was just about the donkey." 



Florence, who had been waiting for an opportunity, 

 now chimed in, '* It was on the line between Cotley 

 and Brownmoor, and on old Moffat's farm," she said 

 triumphantly, after a whispered consultation with 

 Billy, who may have prompted her. Miss Florence 

 had followed hounds on a pony as a schoolgirl ; 

 but this was only her second season on a grown 

 horse. She was quite inexperienced in a crowd, 

 and a little over-anxious not to be in the way ; 

 but had a decided knack of getting along without 

 being conspicuous or seeming to be in a hurry. 

 She had a good eye for a country, and an unfailing 

 memory ; a wrong turn once taken was always re- 

 membered and never again repeated. She never 

 " cofFee-housed," and at a check always stood still 

 outside the crowd, watching, so usually got a good 

 start. Her great desire was to become a thorough 

 sportswoman, to learn the country well, to get to 



