A SOCIAL PROBLEM. 71 



side — just one of those places where if you don't get 

 over you get in, and probably have to stay there, with 

 your horse in an attitude not only disagreeable in 

 itself, but derogatory to the feelings of an animal that 

 has not been brought up in a circus. " The man who 

 jumped that awful big cutting" will be talked about 

 until some other moving incident of flood or field comes 

 in its turn to claim attention, and this is precisely what 

 Crossley desires. 



A couple of hounds turn that way, plunge in, and 

 climb out again, one slipping back with a most un- 

 pleasantly suggestive splash. 



This is enough for Crossley, who takes the little bay 

 by the head, and, feeling sure that his achievement can- 

 not be overlooked, makes for by no means the easiest 

 place, goes at it with a rush, and lands well over with 

 something to spare. As it happens, a hound hits off 

 the scent to the right, and we have not to risk this ugly 

 place — I do not know how other fellows feel about it : 

 if they experience my sentiments they are sincerely 

 relieved ; glory is delightful, but broken bones take off 

 its gloss. Crossle}^, however — who very soon afterwards 

 gets on his second horse, though we have had no run as 

 yet, and only threw off half an hour ago — has not 

 jumped in vain. 



The little bay goes home to Downing's stables, and I 

 have no doubt that the cheque he writes is a heavy one. 

 We shall see in due time whether Sir Henry Akerton's 



