7-i EACECOUKSE AND COVERT SIDE. 



has lately resounded, kuows his duty ; but what 

 of the field ? Some ten per cent, ride straight 

 on at the hedge and ditch in front of them ; a 

 couple jump an awkward stile ; half a dozen 

 believe that hounds will swing round to the 

 right, and following one wary sportsman, who 

 gives rise to this supposition, they charge a 

 flight of rails in that direction, which the fourth 

 man breaks, leaving a very simple jump for the 

 fifth man, who had been looking out for such a 

 casualty ; and for the sixth, who did not intend 

 to brave it at all, unless the way was cleared for 

 him. Seeing how things are, a few from the 

 miain body gallop across the field to take advan- 

 tage of the broken rail, and a few more hesitating 

 spirits have made up their minds to ride boldly 

 — as boldly as may be — at the fence, over which 

 one of them falls, another refusal unseats the 

 rider, and a loose horse careers away. 



A sixteen-stone farmer has turned into the 

 road to the left, and is pounding along down it 

 with a trotting and cantering contingent at his 

 horse's heels, while nearly half the field are 

 following each other over a gap which they jump 

 in divers fashions. Some ride at it neatly 

 enough, others go at a very sober trot, and there 

 are those who walk their horses up the bank, and, 

 with an amount of deliberation irritating to men 



