YET. 209 



diagonally, of course increases tlie IcDgtli of the 

 leap, yet that is better than jumping directly 

 towards a kind of living post, instead of away 

 from it ; but I know of no other fence that should 

 be thus ridden at or taken/^ 



^' Resolved most satisfactorily/' said my friend; 

 " but I think I have you a little on the hip on 

 one point." 



" Very likely you have/' said I ; " then pray 

 throw me over.'' 



" You told me the other day that I blew my 

 bay from riding him over a ridge and furrow 

 field, instead of up a headland ; now I saw you 

 to-day, to use a term of your own, ' spin ' yours 

 across such another ridge and furrow^ like fun." 



" You did," said I; ^'^but I was not on a horse 

 half blow^n; and again there is a vast deal of 

 difference in ridge and furrow, not merely as to 

 the firmness of the ridge but also as to its width ; 

 there is a particular width that enables your 

 horse to land on each ridge in his stride, so the 

 furrow • does not interfere with his going ; he 

 comparatively goes on level ground, so long as he 

 goes, or is held to an even length of stride. I 

 cut ofi* a considerable distance by crossing w^here 

 I did j you made a kind of circuit ; and such was 

 the kind of ground, that your horse's fore-feet 

 in one stroke came on to the ridge, the next in 

 the furrow^; you must have felt this, should have 

 p 



