1881—82.] AUTUMN CONDITION. 377 



the time : and men and horses seemed half bk)wn ah-ead}-. 

 The ditches were hUnd ; but I saw no falls. I know one who 

 saw stars ; and his best feature still wears an unhallowed hue 

 — as of gin and bitters. Horse took an extra little stride to 

 gather himself for timber beyond the W00II3' ditch, felt his 

 hindlegs going in, and averted a fall only by throwing back his 

 head into rider's hapless face. Rider, who has not had the 

 gloves on for some time, shook his head sadl}^ and savagely at 

 the unaccustomed shock— ^and made me a free present of the 

 incident to adorn my tale, bargaining only that the ignomin}^ 

 of his blood}' nose should not be debited agamst him as obtained 

 on landing after a jump. By this time the hounds had reached 

 wliat is known as Mrs. Loy's House, above the village of Gad- 

 desby ; and, threading the garden, crossed the road, on to the 

 open fields beyond — while horsemen had to double round by 

 the back yard, and pass the difficulties of a wire and locked 

 gate as best they might. Watches Avere out as if a check had 

 come ; and " AYhat a jolly ten minutes ! " Avas on ever}' tongue. 

 While the run had in reality only just begun, we (poor sim- 

 pletons) had quite taken it for granted that this was to be but 

 one of the short merry scrambles we had so often seen over 

 the same ground ; that we had been quite justified in taking 

 every possible liberty with our horses ; and that a fat cub must 

 by this time be nearly burst up. Getting on to the grass 

 again, we were quickly imdeceived. The spotted ones were 

 vanishing over the next brow, two fields away — fiying wp the 

 east wind, Avitli Gaddesby Hall and its surroundings left far 

 behind. There was nothing for it but to sit down and make 

 up the ground as fast as one dare squeeze a half-prepared 

 horse. Everything, luckily, was in favour of quick going. 

 The ground Avas sound and Avell turfed ; the fences Avere mostly 

 a quarter of a mile apart — and, though stifi;' in the main, had 

 many useful easy places in the line of route. The wavy ridge 

 and furrow Avas ruled the right Avay ; and, above all, there Avas 

 no croAvd to choke the gaps. Tavo deep, hidden grips in 

 midfield Avere nasty traps for bloAvn horses. There Avas no 



