282 HUNTINGCROP HALL 



But alas ! though clear of the trees practically, 

 I was, metaphorically, very far from being out of 

 the wood. When just endeavouring to make up 

 my mind to come out again some day, I heard a 

 noise, and, looking behind me, saw the whole fear- 

 ful concourse rapidly approaching the hedge which 

 led into the ploughed field next to me on the 

 right. Helter-skelter, on they came ! Hounds 

 popping through, and scrambling over. Then a 

 man in pink topping the fence, and on again over 

 the plough ; then one in black over with a rush ; 

 two, three, four more in different places. Another 

 by himself who came up rapidly, and, parting com- 

 pany with his horse, shot over like a rocket ! 



All this I noted in a second. There was no 

 time to watch, for The Sultan had seen the oppor- 

 tunity of making up for his lost day, and started 

 off with the rush of an express train. We flew 

 over the field ; neared the fence. I was shot into 

 the air like a shuttlecock from a battledore — a 

 moment of dread — then, a fearful shock which 

 landed me lopsidedly, somewhere on the animal's 

 neck. He gives a spring which shakes me into 

 the saddle again, and is tearing over the grass 

 field beyond. I am conscious that I am in the 

 same field as the Major, and some three or four 

 other men. We fly on at frightful speed — there is 



