2 24 SKETCHES IN THE HUNTING FIELD. 



would. Stones had just been put down, as a matter of 

 course ; but there was no time for picking the' way, and 

 taking tight hold of her head we sped on. 



About a mile from the Lodge I came to the cross 

 roads. Before me was a long vista of stones — regular 

 rocks, so imperfectly were they broken : to the right was 

 the smoother and softer pathway over the fields— perfect 

 going in comparison with the road. Just over this 

 fence, a hedge, and with hardly another jump I should 

 come again into the highway, saving quite two miles by 

 the cut. Bertie had said " Don't," but probably he had 

 spoken thoughtlessly, and it was evidently the best 

 thing to do, for the time I saved might be of the greatest 

 value to poor little suffering Nellie. I pulled up, and 

 drew the mare back to the opposite hedge. She knew 

 her work thoroughly. Two bounds took her across the 

 road ; she rose — the next moment I was on my back, 

 shot some distance into the field, and she was struggling 

 up from the ground. There had been a post and rail 

 whose existence I had not suspected, placed some six 

 feet from the hedge on the landing side. She sprang 

 up, no bones were broken ; and I, a good deal shaken 

 and confused, rose to my feet, wondering what to do 

 next. I had not had time to collect my thoughts when 

 I heard the rattle of a trap on the road ; it speedily 

 approached, and the moonlight revealed the jolly 

 features of old Tom Heathfield, a friendly farmer. 



" Accident, sir r " he asked, pulling up. *' What ! 

 Mr. Vaughan ! " as he caught sight of my face. " What's 

 the why! that ain't the mare, sure/zi:.^ " 



