80 RACECOURSE AND COVERT SIDE. 



Five and twenty minutes of this, at nearly- 

 racing pace, makes his horse lean a little on 

 the bridle, and a check is not unwelcome. 

 "Duchess" goes off as if she had found out 

 something, but her he doubts. She does not 

 speak to it ; if she did he would hardly believe 

 her. But surely " Dainty " will hit it off? He 

 has always had confidence in her, and as she 

 goes feathering down the hedgerow she presently 

 utters a reassuring note. That is it ! On they 

 go again, the little horse cleverly recovering 

 from a slitlier at the landing side of a fence in 

 a way w^hich increases his rider's appreciation 

 of the animal, and possibly of his own horseman- 

 ship. The pair may be left scurrying fairly 

 over the country to take care of themselves. 

 For sportsmen such as these there is, perhaps, 

 no pleasure so great as riding to hounds. 



