HUNTINGCROP HALL 279 



anxious to kill a hound or two to begin with. 

 " Infernal Cockney ! " was, I fancy, the term of 

 endearment he used as he rode on ; but I don't 

 think Laura caught any of this short but forcible 

 utterance, for just at this moment a cry was raised 

 in the wood to the left, and the men charged 

 through the gate and along the narrow cart-track 

 with a wild rush. Again The Sultan urged on his 

 wild career — half -breaking my leg against the gate- 

 post, as I was very courteously endeavouring to get 

 out of the way of an irascible gentleman behind 

 me, who appeared to be in a hurry, and then 

 plunging me into the midst of a struggling push- 

 ing throng of men and horses. 



If the other noble sportsmen were not enjoying 

 themselves more than I, it was certainly a pity 

 that they had not stayed at home. Where was 

 this going to end ? and — but what was the 

 matter in front ? They paused, and then suddenly 

 all turned round and charged back along the nar- 

 row path. I was taken by surprise, and got out 

 of the way as best I could, pulling my liorse back 

 amongst the trees, and the whole cavalcade rushed 

 past me. Out of the wood ; across the road ; over 

 the opposite hedge, most of them — some turn off to- 

 wards a gate to the right — and away up the rise be- 

 yond ; passing over which they were soon out of sight. 



