A CHECK. THE BATTLE CONTINUED 163 



ing parson during a gallop in what Mr. Jorrocks 

 would call one of the "cut 'em down countries." 

 The " good " man was very grateful, and when met 

 a year or so afterwards said, " Well, I have always 

 thought better of hunting-fields since that day." 



Again, suppose we have the luck to be going 

 strong and well towards the end of what will be a 

 record run, let us not hesitate, should the Huntsman 

 or Master get to the bottom of their horses, to offer 

 ours. We may miss being named in The Field 

 as being one of the five or six who saw the finish, 

 but we shall have the far greater satisfaction of 

 having done our best for " the side." 



It is the possession of the feelings which prompt 

 actions like this that distinguishes the true soldier 

 from the mere medal or brevet hunter. 



We are getting into an intricate country, in more 

 ways than one, and we had better concentrate our 

 thoughts on the work in hand, that is, the getting to 

 the end of a good run on a horse which cannot by 

 this time be any too fresh. In among small fields, 

 with going by no means sound, and a tired horse 

 under us, we shall want all the powers of observa- 

 tion and of overcoming difificulties that we possess. 



Ah ! that very green look about the centre of the 

 field we have just jumped into probably means bog, 

 also we must look out that our horse does not drop 

 his hind-legs into one of the herring-bone drains as 

 we gallop over them, for this will mean a nasty fall, 

 and perhaps a broken back for our mount. Judg- 

 ing by its situation and surroundings, this innocent- 



