A COVEKT SIDE. 95 



came tumljling each over each, across it, and away, on 

 a breast-high scent, over the open. 



"Now go it!" shouted Magher; and at the word, 

 almost in a line, thirty horses shot over the drop-leap. 

 Fairfax had cleared it cleverly ; a score at least of the 

 others were rushing blindly toward the gate ; ten or 

 a dozen only of the old ones had taken their own line ; 

 Fairfax remembered. Holding the brave horse hard 

 by the head, and gripping him, monkey-like, from 

 crotch to ankle-joint, he rushed him at the great leap, 

 giving him the spur sharply as he rode to it. 



For an instant the sensation was that of being en- 

 throned on the back of a soaring bird, so easy was the 

 long swinging stride ; then came the crash of the top- 

 most branches of the tall bullfinch, as he was borne 

 violently through them ; and then, firm as a rock, the 

 good steed alighted well in the next field, with an un- 

 shaken rider on his back, and went away without stop 

 or stagger at a long slashing gallop. 



So Percy Fairfax saw the finding of his First Fox 



