332 Cross Country with Horse and Hound 



The chase is on. "Now, lads, ride!" 



Is n't it glorious, this first burst of speed on a horse that 

 is just a little above himself? No pen can ever hope to 

 describe it. It is as if the gods had given you wings. 

 Hear the clamorous pack leading on, your horse scarcely 

 touching the turf as he races away, eager in pursuit. The 

 first few fences make us catch our breath, for our mounts 

 will take them flying, clearing them with feet instead of 

 inches to spare. Yet we must not, even in this moment of 

 exultation, forget our horsemanship. Allow no horse to take 

 liberties after the first fence or two. It is all very well to 

 let him rid himself of the superfluous kinks in his legs and 

 back and his surcharge of energy, rather than set up a fight 

 or ruffle his temper, but on no account must he be per- 

 mitted to shoot his bolt. 



" What, a check so soon ? " 



Yes, and very welcome. Let us stop where we are. If 

 it be a short turn back we are well enough where we 

 stand, or if the fox has already turned down-wind we 

 could not be in a better position. In that case the hounds 

 have only overshot the line and must come back to find 

 it. Let us dismount after the hounds have been per- 

 mitted to make their own cast and have failed. We must 

 keep an eye to them, however, and at the first symptoms of 

 a whimper be ready to mount. 



Now the huntsman, seeing that the hounds do not find 

 the scent again by their own cast, lifts them smartly up- 

 wind, and, failing there, wheels them around down-wind with 

 a wide cast back ; and, sure enough, the leading hounds 

 begin to raise their hackles and wave their sterns. The 



