210 THE HUNTING-FIELD. 



turned him^ and gone straight np instead of 

 across^ in doing which you should take the crown 

 of each ridge or the furrow, whichever you find 

 the firmest. I hope I have now excused what I 

 did. And now/' said I, "let me compliment 

 you on your seat and hands ; you are really a 

 good horseman. You only want to study cross- 

 country navigation; this, practice will teach." 



" Particularly/' said my guest, good-humour- 

 edly, " when it is tangible practice, as in the case 

 of the post and rails to-day ; was that my fault or 

 the horse's ? " 



" Most unquestionably yours," said I, " and 

 one, I dare say, you will never repeat. You saw 

 the rails were not such .as to give way, conse- 

 quently required to be done clean. It is, as I 

 have said, in most cases unsafe to ride fast at stiif 

 timber. The only case where I consider it allow- 

 able is when the beat to it is up hill ; here a little 

 extra impetus is wanted, and in going up hill 

 horses will shorten their stride of their own 

 accord. Going down hill at a high jump is always 

 unfavourable ; but going down hill, and fast too, 

 makes it all but impossible for a horse to rise. 

 You saw Roberts catch hold of his mare and 

 slacken her pace, before he came to it ] you could 

 not have had a better guide than he ; you saw 

 me, whom, you are pleased to consult, do the same ; 

 but you 'rushed like a torrent down the vale.' 



