114 LADIES ON HOESEBACK. 



shout ! My horse — than which a better never 

 was saddled — rose to the leap, and landing 

 upon his head after a terrific drop, rolled 

 •completely over. I was not much hurt, and 

 whilst he was on his knees getting up, I 

 scrambled back to the saddle, and went on ; 

 but, oh ! under what dire disadvantages ! My 

 rein had caught upon a stake in the fence and 

 was broken clean off, and I fancy it was this 

 chuck to my animal's mouth which had thrown 

 him out of his stride and caused him to blunder^ 

 for it was the first and last mistake he ever 

 made with me, nor could I, in the hurry of 

 regaining my seat unassisted, get my foot into 

 the stirrup ; so I finished the run as if by a 

 miracle, and astonished myself even more than 

 anybody else by bringing home the fox's brush 

 as a trophy that I was in at the death. 



Always bear in mind when hunting that 

 you are bound to save your horse as much as 

 possible. Jump no unnecessary fences ; look 

 out for a friendly gate whenever you can find 

 one at hand ; and in going up hill or over 

 ploughed land, ease your animal and take 

 your time. By acting thus judiciously you 



