February Fill-dyke 



who would have " had " the water under ordi- 

 nary conditions ; nay, who would have put it 

 to the venture even as it was, but half a dozen 

 of one's friends bobbing about up to the neck 

 in very cold and dirty water has not a very 

 encouraging effect. Besides, at a stream where 

 the approaches are bad when half a dozen are 

 in it, there is not much chance of finding a 

 decently safe place. So, full of ire, the field 

 galloped off to the nearest bridge. " Thank 

 heaven, it is two miles off," murmured the 

 Master as he looked back. 



We, who were lucky enough to get over the 

 brook, and whoever got over it that day was 

 lucky indeed, knew that to it we were indebted 

 for the good run we now enjoyed ; for it stands 

 to reason that fifty men are more easily kept in 

 hand than five times that number, and that 

 five-and-twenty are more easily kept in hand 

 than fifty, and it was nearer the smaller than 

 the larger number that went on with hounds 

 over a beautiful country for other forty minutes. 

 Then came a view, a short turn, and " Whoo 

 whoop! " 



I3i 



