150 MY FIRST AND LAST STEEPLE-CHASE 



" So we are, Barney ; and that reminds me — 

 tell the girls to come up the next night, and we'll 

 give them a dance before the tent is taken down." 



" Long life to yer honour ! It's proud and 

 happy they will be to go. Here's the young ladies 

 comin'. Good evenin', sir ! We'll be on the 

 coorse to-morrow, an' see you get fair play, any- 

 how." 



The tent-ropes flapped ominously that night as 

 we turned in, and before morning a storm came on 

 which increased to a hurricane, when our party 

 assembled for breakfast, and looked out disconso- 

 lately enough at the boiling sea, dimly visible 

 through the driving rain and spray that dashed in 

 sheets of water against the glass. Already num- 

 bers of the peasantry, on their way to the course, 

 were staggering along the road, vainly trying to 

 shelter themselves from the furious blast which 

 made the very walls of the lodge shake. Taking 

 advantage of a slight lull, we managed to get a 

 young fir-tree propped up against the pole of the 

 tent, and had just returned to the house when a 

 well-appointed four-in-hand came at a sharp trot 

 up the avenue. 



" Here come the Plungers," said Dick. " Plucky 

 fellows to drive over fourteen miles such a morn- 



