348 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



lifted ; and the latch, if so it may be called, is an immov- 

 able fixture intended only to retard. And as almost every 

 fence (the dingle of the hillside excepted) is to be ridden 

 over at one point or another, I can readily understand 

 that one would be likely to lose rather than gain ground 

 by essaying to manipulate each tempting gate. (I write 

 as one to whom the easy-swinging gates of the Shires 

 constitute of course a natural, unfailing attraction.) This 

 necessity for cross-country riding, in the truest meaning 

 of the term, very possibly has something to do with the 

 moderate numbers of an ordinary Blackmore field. 



And the fences themselves — what of these ? I believe 

 I am safe in saying that, beyond what nature has cut 

 here and there in the form of dingle and brook, they are 

 fashioned almost invariably upon the system of a bank 

 surmounted by thorn, hazel, or other hedge growth. The 

 bank varies in size and height according to the require- 

 ment of the district ; so do the ditches, double or single ; 

 while the hedge is cut on a pattern unknown to the Mid- 

 land fencemaker, and that of course is only applicable to 

 a bank. Its growers are laid lengthways, generally only 

 a foot or two from the soil, are kept in their places b^ 

 sharp, upright stakes, while the superfluous growth is 

 trimmed in a -close succession of knifelike blades, com- 

 parable to nothing so much, when newly cut, as to 

 chevaux de frise wherewith to check the advance of foot 

 and horse. How any hunter escapes impalement is to me 

 a matter of wondering surprise. But I am told they 

 habitually do, when once they know their business. 



Fortunate indeed may I consider myself in any way 

 to have sampled the Vale during this summer month. Of 

 course I can lay no claim to have learned it ; but I have 

 seen enough to allow me to endorse what I had long ago 

 been told of its delights and its characteristics. 



On Tuesday — favoured in some measure by good 

 luck, in a much greater degree by the kind courtesy of 

 the Master — I took part in a thirty-five-minute hunt of 

 most cheery description, over what is known locally as 

 their Stalbridge Vale — the turf riding firm, mossy, and 

 elastic, while never a ploughed field came in the way. 



