20 SPORT. 



are the same. He picks out a spot where no broken 

 banks appear, and the grass is visible on the other 

 side, and where, if any, there may be a stunted bush 

 or two on his side of it ; there he knows the bank 

 is sound, for there is nothing more depressing than 

 what may happen, though mounted on the best water 

 jumper in your stable, to find yourself and him, 

 through the breaking down of a treacherous under- 

 mined bank in the very act of jumping the brook 

 subsiding quietly into the water. The bush at least 

 secures him from such a fate. About one hundred 

 yards from the place he " steadies " his horse almost 

 to a hand canter till within half a dozen strides of 

 the brook, when he sits down in his saddle, and lets 

 him go at it full speed. The gallant beast knows 

 what this means, and also by cocking his ears, 

 snatching at the bridle, and snorting impatiently, 

 shows his master that he is aware of what is before 

 him. Through the combination of his own accurate 

 judgment and his master's fine handling, he takes 

 off exactly at the right distance, describes an 



