1881—82.] . CiRASS AND WA'rail. 383 



to give ii Imntsiiiaii fair play !) Man}' who were riding close 

 and fair here threw themselves wide by keeping to tlie right of 

 the pack. Hounds passed just to the left of the old Hall — 

 flying up the hill at a pace that left horses farther behind each 

 moment. Already there were not a score of men to compose 

 the van — though the real tussle had as j^et scarcely lasted a 

 quarter of an hour. Leaving the Hall and Park behind, these 

 pushed hard after the fleeting pack — across the beautiful, and 

 better-drained, pastures that open a perfect riding line to Bag- 

 grave. An unexpected Avire left a stout ugly stile, ston}'- and 

 slippery on either side, and overhung by a tree, the only point 

 at which passage over the next bottom was possible. Every 

 horse slipped at it, and most horses hit it ; but, apparently, all 

 the leaders who would chance it passed safely over. Now the 

 grass is firmer once more ; the fences come again in your 

 stride, and some of the lost ground can be made up. The first 

 few, as already named, have been joined by Mr. Beaumont- 

 Lubbock, Captain Middleton, Colonel Chippindall, Mr. Watts, 

 the first whip, and another. The casualties are coming rapidl}' 

 — Hold up, old horse ! Tliat stumble has taken all your little 

 remaining wind away. You wouldn't refuse if you had strength 

 to jump ; so j'ou must have it your own Avay and stop ! Firr 

 and others turn one field to the right to catch the Hungei-ton 

 brook Avliere the Baggrave and Quenby road bridges it. " Keep 

 on straight. Major, for Heaven's sake ! They are half a field 

 already the better of us, and hounds a full field the better of 

 them ! " Oh, whitefaced chestnut, wliy sliould you take ofl" a 

 full stride too soon, when every inch should have been of value 

 to your half-exliausted powers ? A crop])er of course ! No ! 

 Yes ! ! No — o ! ! ! A sharp rowel and a tough-skinned shoulder 

 just achieve a rescue. The chestnut is up with a tuft of grass 

 on his forehead-band ; and in fifty or sixty yards more his 

 rider is no longer between his ears, but back in the saddle 

 looking round for the Major. Nothing to be seen of him. Of 

 course he has turned to the right after Firr : so the other may 

 push along at his best, and compare notes afterwards. (Pai^en- 



