172 PINK AND SCARLET 



If a herd leaves unfolded, lamb, heifer, or steer, 



If the colt from his tackle can kick himself clear, 



Your truants to capture you'd hardly desire 



That their hides should be torn into ribbons with wire ! " 



Having got thus far our friend will probably be 

 in the mood for seeing it from the point of view of — 



'"Tis cruel to see, in the cream of a run, 

 A dozen fine fellows enjoying the fun, 

 Struck down at a moment to writhe in the dirt, 

 Dismounted, disgusted, both frightened and hurt ! 

 While behind them a panic breaks out like a fire. 

 With the ominous caution — ' Ware wire, sir ! ' Ware wire ! " 



and he will end by exclaiming — 



" Dang it all ! I'll take the stuff down." 

 All this may fairly be called digression from our 

 line, but digression (of the thoughts only) is per- 

 missible — nay, is good, because it amounts to relax- 

 ation on the way home after a run, or a fight. More- 

 over, in this case the very digression brings us 

 back to the true line — that of the Real — again, for 

 this panic which " breaks out like a fire " in the 

 hunting-field, " with the ominous caution — 'Ware 

 wire, sir ! 'Ware wire ! " is on all-fours with the 

 panic which may break out among our men in war 

 when some one says, " The enemy are behind us ; " 

 "Our flank is turned ;" or, " Here come the spear- 

 men," etc., etc. 



And does not each sort of panic require the same 

 qualities in the leaders to overcome it, and to "get 

 on " in spite of it } Presence of mind to avert 

 disaster, eye forward to see a way out, decision to 

 act, and nerve to carry out the action decided on. 



