2 1 o Fox-Hunting 



Some of the pack had by this time frankly given it 

 up, and were looking to the huntsman for a hint, when 

 old Eattler, wide to the left, spoke to it, and at the same 

 moment a farmer on his cob on the rising ground beyond 

 held up his hat, a signal that he had seen the fox. Away 

 they dash again. Tommy and the master jumping a nice 

 little fence before them, while Johnny, who had been 

 nearly off a second time over a gap, followed a few of the 

 more cautious spirits through a gate which took them 

 on to the highway. New stones had just been put down 

 liere, and, to avoid them, all the horsemen except Johnny 

 cantered along the strip of grass that bordered the road. 

 He, with no consideration for his pony's feet, or for the 

 fact that, game and gallant as the little animal was, it 

 was now thoroughly tired, drove it along over the sharp 

 stones. 



' Look at that young rascal ! He ought not to be 

 trusted on a pony,' an honest old farmer said to a 

 neighbour. ' He has been bucketing the poor little 

 beast about all day, and beating it with the whip that 

 ought to be laid over his own back. Hi ! you boy — ah ! 

 I thought that's what would happen ! Serve him right, 

 if the pony had not hurt itself ! ' 



The last exclamation noted the downfall of Master 

 Johnny Green. His pony had made a false step, and 

 came down, shooting his rider over his head on to the 

 flints. The little creature was soon up, with a pair of 

 broken knees, while the origin of the mischief was 

 helped to his feet by a man who happened to be at hand. 

 When he had recovered his breath Master Johnny yelled 

 lustily, and not without some sort of cause, for his face, 

 hands, and elbows were badly cut, and the torn knicker- 



