HUNTINGCROP HALL. 191 



of hounds, escorted by several officials, was approaching. 

 The Major and his party were cordially greeted, and no 

 doubt like civilities would have been extended to me had 

 I been in a position to receive them ; but, unfortunately 

 I was not ; for, on seeing the hounds, the " playfulness " 

 of The Sultan vigorously manifested itself, and he com- 

 menced a series of gymnastic exercises to which his 

 previous performances had been a mere farce. I lost my 

 head, but mysteriously kept what was more important — 

 my seat, until the tempest of his playfulness had in some 

 measure abated ; and then he stood still, shaking with 

 excitement. I sat still, shaking — from other causes. 



" Keep your horse's head to the hounds, will you, sir?" 

 was the salutation which the master bestow^ed on me, 

 cantering up as the pack defiled through a gate ; and 

 indeed The Sultan seemed anxious to kill a hound or two 

 to begin with. " Infernal Cockney ! " was, I fancy, the 

 term of endearment he used as he rode on ; but I don't 

 think Laura caught any of this short but forcible utter- 

 ance, for just at this moment a cry was raised in the 

 wood to the left, and the men charged through the gate 

 and along the narrow cart-track with a wild rush. Again 

 The Sultan urged on his wild career, half-breaking my 

 leg against the gate-post, as I was very courteously 

 endeavouring to get out of the way of an irascible 

 gentleman behind me who appeared to be in a hurry, 

 and then plunging me into the midst of a struggling^, 

 pushing throng of men and horses. 



If the other noble sportsmen were not enjoying them- 



