1 6 A Question of Bits 



leads the mare had persistently refused with him ; now, 

 the first two jumps surmounted, she went on quite 

 kindly. There was nothing for it but to hope that the 

 open brook would settle her, for she never quite liked 

 water. To this they came when some two miles had 

 been covered. With much skill, sure of his horse as he 

 was, Lawford half stopped him as they came close to 

 the water, the result of which was that he dropped his 

 hind legs, and only got over with a scramble. Chippen- 

 ham felt unpleasant sensations as of an impending 

 refusal, well as he and his mount had got on since the 

 first fence. A grasp of the reins, at once firm and 

 gentle, and a pressure of the legs kept her straight. On 

 the brink her old instincts seemed to revive ; she landed 

 well over and went on willingly and gaily. Half a mile 

 from home, with four fair hunting fences to cross, 

 Chippenham was quite comfortable, going at his ease a 

 length in front of Crusader, and as they neared the little 

 group placed near the tree which did duty for a winning 

 post, the sound of a whip and the fact that Crusader's 

 nose could not be forced in front of the mare's girths 

 showed Chippenham that all was well. So they brushed 

 through the last fence, and passed the ' post,' the mare 

 a couple of lengths to the good. 



* I don't understand it ! ' Oakley said. ' Why will 

 she jump with Chippenham when she won't with her 

 own master, for Lawford can ride ? ' 



' It is an occurrence which demands elucidation,' 

 Starchley rejoined. 



* What's the dodge ? How's it done, Chippenham ? 

 Here I've gone and laid 5 to 4 on Lawford and you've 

 been and beaten him,' Oakley inquired, as the pair, 

 having pulled up, rode back, Lawford decidedly sulky. 



