8 SPORT. 



up and sterns down, with very little cry or music- 

 indicative of a scent rarely bequeathed by modern 

 foxes. The fences are, as a rule, strong, but not high 

 the " stake and bound " of the grazing countries ; 

 but ever and anon a low but strong rail on the 

 nearer, or the glimmer of a post on the further 

 side, makes our friend communicate silently and mys- 

 teriously with his horse a fine-shouldered, strong- 

 quartered animal, almost, if not quite, thoroughbred 

 as he approaches the obstacle, on the necessity of 

 extra care or increased exertion. It is, as the rider 

 knows, an " oxer," i.e. a strongly-laid fence, a wide 

 ditch, and at an interval of about three or four feet 

 from the former a strong single oak rail secured 

 between stout oak posts. Better for him if the ditch 

 is on the nearer and this rail on the further side, 

 as, if his horse jumps short, his descending impetus 

 will probably break it, provided it is not very 

 strong and new, in which case a calamity will 

 probably occur ; but a collision with such a rail on 

 the nearer side may lead to risky complications of 



