HUNTING. 113 



course to pursue. It is the one which I 

 always adopt, and I have never yet, except 

 in one trifling instance, received a kick from 

 a fallen horse. 



I remember one day, a couple of seasons 

 ago, I was riding hard against a very 

 beautiful Imperial lady, who dearly loves a 

 little bit of rivalry. Neck and neck we 

 had jumped most of the fences for forty 

 minutes or so, and both our steeds were 

 pretty well beaten, for the running had been 

 continuous, without a check. We came to an 

 awful obstacle — a high thick-set hedge, so 

 impenetrable that there was no chance of 

 knowing what might be on the other side. 

 There was but one nttle apology for a gap, 

 and at this the Empress's pilot rode — imme- 

 diately putting up his hand as a warning to 

 us not to follow, and pointing lower down. 

 I knew that when Bay Middleton thought 

 there was danger, it did, indeed, exist ; but I 

 was too much excited to stop. We had the 

 hunt all to ourselves, the hounds running 

 right in front of us, and not a soul with them. 

 I came at the fence with whip, spur, and a 



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