201 



The country was now grass, tlie pace too good 

 to let the field do more than hold their place with 

 a good deal of tailing to boot. 



" Keep his head straight/^ said I to my friend 

 nearing the next fence, " and spin him at it ; 

 there^s a yawner toother side/^ 



Over we went, onr horses taking it abreast. 

 " Come np," cries Roberts, not a length behind, 

 giving the old mare a lift, who, with her nostrils 

 somewhat of the widest from catching us, was yet 

 going like a bird. " Go it, ye cripple,^' cries he, 

 giving his mare a pat on the neck, and a slight 

 scientific pull to ease her. 



The country was now just what all countries 

 should be, the scent lying breast high. 



'' Hold hard, gentlemen," cried the Huntsman, 

 the leading hound beginning to feather right and 

 left. He caught it again. I could not help one 

 " Yoi, at him, Stormer ! " as the hound went 

 streaming away. 



My friend went like a trump; we had had about 

 fifteen minutes without a check. The hounds 

 were now going a terrible pace, down a long hill in 

 a pasture, — " Now for the timber jumpers," said 

 I, pulling my horse almost into a canter at a stifi' 

 post and rail on a bank. Roberts did the same. 

 My friend passed between us, and as our horses 

 took it abreast, over went my friend in advance, 

 a most '' royal crowner," into the next field. 



