72 HOUND AND HORN 



'^ Not much 'dwell' from Harestanes, Major," put 

 in Richards. 



" No, it was certainly better in the afternoon ; a 

 fastish ten minutes over a fairish country that took 

 some doin' ; if they had only gone on there wouldn't 

 have been many in it." 



" Fastish ! " screamed several voices; '^it's four miles 

 on the map, and I swear we did not take more than 

 fifteen minutes to it. Why, it's racing. It's * Grand 

 National ' form." 



" I would sum it up," persisted the Major, '^ by 

 saying it was an indifferent day, relieved by a smart 

 dash in the afternoon." 



'* Well, Master," said Richards, " I call it a very 

 first-rate day's sport " (he had ridden in many point 

 to point races, and between the flags). '' Hounds ran 

 quite fast enough over a stiffish enclosed country, 

 with a twisting fox headed back once or twice, and 

 on an uncertain scent. They stuck well to the line, 

 and put in some very pretty work. The huntsman 

 was very patient and persevering ; let them alone at 

 the critical time, and encouraged them at the right 

 moment ; and worked hard all through the show sport. 

 As to the afternoon gallop, you wanted a steeplechase 

 horse to be near it, and, thanks to you, I had one." 



Billy's chief contribution to the discussion was 

 grunted out between clouds of smoke from his pipe : 

 " Some of these fellows ride big bang blood horses up 

 to two stone over their weight, and know the country 

 like their pockets ; " and added, *' I wasn't in the 

 afternoon spurt." 



Bobby's shrill treble now piped up from a dark 

 corner of the sofa, where he had been sleeping un- 



