OVER BANK AND TIMBER. 119 



enclosure. Geraldine was riding her favourite, 

 The Queen, and I was on Tom. We were just 

 behind her Majesty's carriage and close beside 

 one in which were seated the ladies-in-waiting. 

 All went well until a big drum was started just 

 under Tom's nose, when he reared straight up, 

 swung round, and came down with a terrified 

 snort. The performance, I have no doubt, looked 

 sufficiently alarming, and one of the ladies in the 

 carriage close beside us screamed and showed signs 

 of fainting. Fortunately, the band struck up at 

 the moment and diverted attention from us, but 

 Tom was now in no mood to remain quiet. I was, 

 however, hemmed tightly in, and great was my 

 relief on catching Colonel Pearson's eye to see him 

 rush to let down the cord that marked off the 

 enclosure. It was the act of a moment to get 

 Tom outside, where he could work off his excite- 

 ment at his will. My sister's mare was in no way 

 disturbed by the incident, as she had often been 

 ridden over to the field-days at the camp, and her 

 nerves were hardened even to a close performance 

 on the biof drum. 



Tipperary Joe once played me a similar trick 

 when we were out with the Queen's Hounds. The 

 meet was at Wokingham, and I was very anxious 

 to see the deer uncarted. Campbell, who was 

 with me, tried at first to dissuade me ; but at last, 

 with an amused look, which I remembered after- 

 wards, told me where I had better go. I rode up 

 close to the cart, and as the big red-deer bounded 



