A COVERT SIDE. 85 



As the last charitable wish was uttered, the party- 

 had all pulled up in front of the gate, about opening 

 which, from some not very apparent reason, there waa 

 some little delay, when a second shout from Jardinier 

 made them first turn round for the second time, and 

 then open their ranks in haste, moving to the right 

 and left in order to make way for the madman. 



"Out of the way! out of the way!" he shrieked; 

 *'d — n it all, are you afraid of a little gate like that, 

 or do you funk the pike-man. Out of the way, and 

 let me show you how to do it!" 



They scattered at the cry, for knowing the reckless 

 character of the rough-rider, they were well assured 

 that the next minute he'd be in the thick of them; and 

 on he came at full speed, over the hard Macadamized 

 road, intending evidently to take the stiff five-barred 

 gate in his strike. 



" Don't, Jardinier, don't — what folly !" cried Lord 

 McDonald, holding up his hand to wave him back. 

 "He's opening the gate now." 



But the warning was all in vain to one who never 

 in his life gave any heed to warning. On he came at 

 full tilt, giving the black mare the spur, and lifted her 

 at the leap with a sort of cheer. Bravely she rose, 

 and although half-blown, and put full too fast at it, 

 would certainly have cleared the gate ; but in the very 

 point of time when she rose at it, the turnpike-keeper 

 unconscious of what was passing, having received from 

 Matuschevitz payment for the whole party, flung the 

 gate open, so that it swung out directly in front of the 

 filly as she took it. No horse that ever was foaled of 

 a mare could now have got over in safety ; and after 

 a fruitless writhing scramble to clear herself of the 

 obstacle, she went down on her knees and nose on the 

 hard stony road, on the farther side, breaking the 

 former fearfully, and throwing her rider on his head 

 with such violence that his hat flattened like a crushed 



