68 LADIES ON HORSEBACK. 



my opinion. I never take long to make up 

 my mind, so, after a glance at mj- tablets ^ 

 which showed me that I was free for the day^ 

 I donned my habit, and caught the specified 

 train. 



At the station at the end of my journey I 

 found the big bay saddled and awaiting me^ 

 and having mounted him I set off for the 

 kennels, from a field near which the drag was 

 to be run. I took the huntsman for a pilot, 

 knowing that the servant, who was my atten- 

 dant, was rather a duffer at the chase. 



The instant that the hounds were laid on 

 and the hunt started, my big mount com- 

 menced to pull hard, and by the time the 

 first fence was reached his superior strength 

 had completely mastered mine. He was 

 puUing like a steam-engine, head down, ears 

 laid backward, neck set like iron. My blistered 

 hands were powerless to hold him. He rushed 

 wildly at the fence, and striking the horse of 

 a lady who was just landing over it, turned 

 him and his rider a complete somersault ! I 

 subsequently learned that the lady escaped 

 unhurt, but I could not at the moment pause 



