HUNTIXGCROP HALL. 195 



I am on his back, somewhere in the neighbourhood 

 of the saddle : without stirrups, but grimly clutching a 

 confused mass of reins as The Sultan gently canters up 

 the ascent to where the hounds are howling and barking 

 round a man in pink, who weaves something brown in 

 the air before throwing it to them. I have no sooner 

 reached the group than the master arrives, followed by 

 some four or five men, conspicuous among whom is 

 the Major. 



He hastens to me. To denounce me as an impostor ? 

 Have I done anything wrong, or injured the horse ? 



" I congratulate you, Smoothley, I congratulate you ! 

 I promised you a run, and you've had one, and, by Jove ! 

 taken the shine out of some of us. My Lord," to the 

 master, " let me present my friend, IMr. Smoothley, to 

 you. Did you see him take the water ? You and I made 

 for the Narrow^s, but he didn't turn away, and went at it 

 as if Sousemere were a puddle. Eighteen feet of water if 

 it's an inch, and with such a take-off and such a landing, 

 there's not a man in the hunt who'd attempt it ! Well, 

 Heathertopper ! Laura, my dear," for she and the bulky 

 Baronet at this moment arrived at the head of a strag- 

 gling detachment of followers, "you missed a treat in 

 not seeing Smoothley charge the brook : 



" The Swirl is in front, and of it I'm no lover ; 

 There's one way to do it, and that's at a dash; 

 But Christian is leading, and lightly pops over, 



I follow — we rise — down !— No ! ! done with a splash ! 



Isn't that it ? It was beautiful ! " 



O 2 



