112 /// Scarlet and Silk 



out of a lane, aud then a fine stretching grass 

 meadow, with a " useful " looking brook right 

 "down there, in the bottom, its edges fringed 

 with lopped pollards, catches your eye. You 

 take a slight pull at your nag to save his 

 wind, then, just as the last of the hounds 

 scrambles out of the water, making a momen- 

 tary pause on the farther bank to give his 

 dripping sides a shake, you take right hold of 

 your horse's head, press your legs back and 

 send him at it. One hind leg drops in, but 

 with a flourish of the tail your horse is on 

 terra Jirma all right. Splash goes your 

 nearest follower, who has jumped short. 

 Over come the next half-dozen, in gallant 

 style ; two more get in and out again ; no 

 one damaged, and ofi" you set again. Hounds 

 have got still farther ahead, but as you are 

 rising a gentle slope now, it would not be 

 judicious to push on just yet. At the top of 

 the long sloping meadow stands a post and 

 rails, to which you at once give your best 

 attention. Crack ! goes the top rail, and the 

 rest of the field sing a little hymn of praise 



