BUYING AND SELLING HORSES 191 



out to perfection, and his voice rings above the 

 din. 



Low voices discuss the possible Une as hounds 

 crash through the gorse with a bloodthirsty 

 chorus echoing gloriously, " If he crosses the road, 

 we'll all get stuck in that beastly bog, there's one 

 awful ditch there." 



" Hoic ! Hoic ! Hoic ! " the Master's neck 

 pivots slowly. The covert side thrust er flings 

 shame in the face of him who thinks of such bare 

 things as obstacles. 



" Ride at it, man. What's a trench if there's 

 a hunt ? Throw your heart over. This horse of 

 mine will enjoy it." 



Hs'sh ... a little red thing peers over the 

 bank and drops back swiftly. 



'* Hope to goodness it won't be that line to 

 Ballinagarde, all wire " 



" I tell you I jumped wire in the Black and Tan 

 country, it was the only way to keep with 'em." 



Strangers listen impressed. The fox slips away 

 over a good line and when the first rush is over 

 where is our booming friend ? 



In a slow hunt he is there, talking loudly, scoffing 

 at those who are picking places in the next fences. 



" Ride at 'em ! " he says. 



But somehow he melts away, galloping in full 

 evidence for a field or two, and then unseen again 

 until the always over-loud voice is heard telling 

 someone too meek to reply, how So-and-so funked 



