174 SKETCHES IN THE HUKTIXG FIELD. 



but many saddles are emptied and boots filled in the 

 deep and disagreeable brook beyond, having crossed 

 which in safety we may fearlessly join in the con- 

 gratulation : — 



We're steadily sailing away to the fore ; I 



Think we've every prospect of seeing the run, 



For, iprimo aspirat fortuna lahori, 



A thing is half finished when neatly begun. 



It has been said that five-and-twenty minutes is 

 quite long enough for a run, and many who have been 

 hard at it for that period have by this time thoroughly 

 adopted the opinion ; but still hounds go on, with no 

 sign of stopping, though the field is very considerably 

 thinned, as need hardly be said. By a lucky chance 

 Scatterly has got his second horse, a mean and unfair 

 advantage, for which, at the moment, we cordially hate 

 him ; and had he been turned over without doing him- 

 self much damage about this period of the run, I fear 

 some of us would not have lamented the downfall of as 

 good a fellow as ever sat in saddle ; for, much as you 

 may like a man, you like him less than usual when he 

 is cutting you down, and "bellows to mend" is the 

 general situation. 



But suddenly a ringing holloa proclaims that they 

 have seen him, and in the next field the stout fox is 

 rolled over. One lady, two men, the master, and 

 huntsman alone are up, and from the heaving flanks 

 of the horse which has so gallantly carried the latter, 

 it is clear he could not have held on much longer. The 



