THE MUSKKRRY HUNT 377 



Some of the more prudent or sensible members of the 

 field now pulled up. The others rode out again eastward 

 till hounds bore once more to the right, for Wheatley. 

 Jumping out of the Wheatley road, Sweetheart (of whom it 

 is only fair to add that this was her first day's experience 

 as huntsman's horse) fell heavily, and the Master's foot 

 hung for a few moments in the stirrup. Soon, however, 

 he was up and away in pursuit of Mr. Carroll, who had 

 turned out of the road simultaneously. Several strong 

 fences came here, of which I and my brave, but now 

 slightly blown, little mount were able to avoid personal 

 experience by seizing upon a line of lighter fences, a 

 hundred yards or so on the left. Indeed, I could not 

 help fancying that these had actually been lowered, 

 according to custom, by bold Reynard himself towards 

 the close of his flight. Murphy and Hewett were also 

 ready to accept them. And a few minutes later we " ran 

 into him " near Mr. Lane's house. Thirty minutes ; and 

 my story told. 



CHAPTER LIX 



THE MUSKERRY HUNT, COUNTY CORK THE TENTH 



HUSSARS' PACK 



October 1894. — My next experience after Long Island 

 began in county Cork, a region offering distinct comparison, 

 in that most of its dangers are to the horse rather than to 

 *he man. My lot was cast by fate, and kindly friendship, 

 with the loth Hussars — the latter being relegated for a 

 couple of years to what may truly be termed the extremest 

 corner of the two kingdoms — I had nearly written, of the 

 known cavalry world — Ballincollig, to wit. Zealous as 

 are the authorities of the present era in finding day-to-day 

 employment, the year round, for the men who spend what 

 money they can afford for the honour of holding Her 

 Majesty's Commission, there must be some little time, at 

 any rate during the winter months, when recreation and 

 exercise become excusable or even necessary to the British 

 officer. To kill this time, and to provide such solace and 



