168 LADIES ON HORSEBACK. 



A few fields further we came to a terrible 

 obstacle — a high post and rails, with a deep 

 and yawning ditch upon the landing side. 

 Three or four of us went at it : the rest turned 

 away and sought the road. I got over safely, 

 my noble Pleader proving himself, as usual, 

 worthy of my confidence. Captain Dash 

 came next, safely also ; and then my ill- 

 starred lady friend, whose horse (an inferior 

 timber-jumper) bungled, and left her com- 

 pletely prostrate upon the wet earth. Never 

 a pause did Captain Dash make in his onward 

 career, although he glanced back when he 

 heard her shriek, and, incredible as it may 

 appear, I thought 1 saw him smile, for it was 

 ever his saying that ladies had no business 

 hunting, and always deserved mischance; 

 but the poor man, at whose immersion she 

 had laughed a few moments before, came 

 running to her relief, rendered her every 

 assistance in his power, replaced her in the 

 saddle, expressed regret for her accident, and 

 positively declined to accept of any remunera- 

 tion for his services. 



Which of these men, think you, was the 



