200 THE HUNTING-FIELD. 



allright/^ At the end of the ride three moveable 

 rails led out of the cover ; now the moving of rails, 

 though quite excusable and prudent in getting 

 into a cover, is a slow way of getting out. My 

 nag did them neatly, ditto my friend^s. 



" Twoo, twoo, twoo/^ went the Huntsman^s 

 horn, for the benefit of the tail hounds. 



" Hark forward, hoik ! " cries the Second Whip, 

 his thong echoing all round the cover. 



" Where is the First Whip going at such a 

 pace ? '' said my friend. 



'^ Why, there^s an earth in that cover you see 

 half a mile off; it's a nasty place to get to, so he 

 is making for it to give pug a hint to take another 

 line. Now he has stopped his horse, the leading 

 hounds have turned to the right ; he is now trot- 

 ting to come into his place ; we have a beautiful 

 country before us." 



(( We're in luck,'' said T ; " Charley has given 

 us a turn." 



" Just look back. There come the field, who 

 by chance had not got off in so good a place 

 as ourselves." 



Close behind us came young Roberts, his 

 thorough-bred old mare making play at thirty 

 miles an hour. 



" Take the next fence a little oblique to the 

 right," cried I, doing the same. '' Well saved," 

 said I, my friend's horse hitting it hard. 



