76 The Hunting Countries of England. 



mingled. Small enclosures (and so, of course, 

 frequent fences) reign throughout. As with The 

 Cheshire, you almost live in the air when hounds 

 are running. There is nothing much to stop you, 

 while, on the other hand, every inducement is held 

 out to jump. There are few bridle roads, or lines of 

 gates ; though there are frequent lanes. But, when 

 once in a lane, it is often dijB&cult to see over the bank 

 on either side, nor is it always easy to get out of it 

 again. The fences, however, though varying in 

 strength in proportion to the use required of them — 

 for instance, whether on a grazing farm or among 

 cornfields — are generally very practicable, even tempt- 

 ing. A top-binder is a thing unknown. Every hedge 

 is trimmed on its own merits, without resort to the 

 artifice of laying and building that creates such 

 ramparts across the smooth pasturage of the Shires. 

 Thus (except, perhaps, in the case of a stile in a 

 corner) a horse is never turned over by the knees; 

 the sudden puzzled '^ Where am I ? What's happened ? 

 Where's my hat ? Get your foot out of it, you brute ! 

 Not a bit, thanks, don't wait for me ! " represent a 

 sensation almost unknown in the counties of Chester 

 and Salop ; and, moral, a man ought to be able to go 

 on riding there for ever. The worst that ever happens 

 to him is to find himself bowled over, or into a ditch — 

 though even this depends a good deal upon circum- 

 stances and constitution for its charm, a charm that is 

 altogether wanting in the accident of the ditch being 

 just big enough for you both, and you the undermost. 

 Most of the fences are thorn growth upon a low bank, 

 whereon there may, or may not, be room for hind legs 



