240 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



every single hound striving to the head. Captain Lamb 

 and one or two others left the road before the brook, and 

 immediately afterwards had to try their luck over it. The 

 rest bridged the stream ; then, to the number of a score 

 or so, took the new plashed fence from macadam to 

 pasture. But in one sense it was a bad quarter of an 

 hour that they had been through. Strong ridge-and- 

 furrow and two wide double ditches were now a strong 

 order for horses that had already run a four-mile course. 

 Lord Southampton's four-year-old collapsed inconti- 

 nently ; Mr. Adamthwaite's brown came down a buster ; 

 Mr. Charles Beatty's mount only recovered himself by 

 spitting out his bit and retaining but the snaffle to lean 

 upon, Mr. Murland found himself in a wired corner 

 immediately after jumping the same little brook. Mrs. 

 Dalgleish's chestnut, that had carried her so prominently, 

 shook his head, or at least his tail, sadly ; and John Isaacs' 

 brown came back to a trot. So did Mrs. Byass' young 

 horse, and so did Captain Askwith's old one. Mr. Graham's 

 racing mare. Destiny, alone went on gaily ; with Mrs. 

 Graham, on he.r white-faced, equally well-bred mare, 

 nearest to him, till hounds entered the wood by Shuck- 

 burgh House, and when hers too cried " Enough," as 

 Goodall trotted up by aid of spur and dint of cheer. 



In five minutes more, as they stood on the summit 

 and prayed for a gasp ere going further, hounds pulled 

 up, baying over the main earth. Such a picture of hot 

 and happy distress as now displayed on Shuckburgh Hill 

 was surely never put upon canvas yet. 



CHAPTER XXXIV 



SADNESS IN SUNSHINE 



If there be sadness in sunshine, it is to be found by the 

 fox-hunter on those early spring days which tell him how 

 surely and how soon he must change his life, put aside 

 his main happiness, and seek other occupation. Saturday 

 last might have been one of those days — perhaps was. 



