KATES DAY WITH THE OLD HORSE 231 



Cardigan, she had forgotten that she could not 

 swim. 



The M.F.H. and his cousin were now the only 

 two left with the hounds, and in front of them 

 rose, perhaps, the worst fence in the Gonaway 

 country, a stiff stone wall, the stones all firmly 

 morticed, and on the top a row of rough-edged 

 slabs set on end like the teeth of a saw. Under 

 the take-off side ran a deep, little stream, nowhere 

 less than six feet wide, and even at that the banks 

 were undermined and unsafe. 



The cousins were alongside in the field which this 

 mantrap bounded. Every atom of colour had left 

 her cheeks now, and her lips were white with pain. 

 Had George's whole heart and mind not been in 

 the chase, he must have seen, and insisted on her 

 returning home. As it was, he only said, " They've 

 killed him, Kate ; I must have it and save a bit of 

 the best fox I ever hunted/' And if hounds' 

 tongues could be believed, they had indeed at last 

 pulled the gallant old fox down, though the rugged 

 piece of masonry before alluded to hid the pack 

 from view. 



" Is there no other way, George ? " 



" No, don't you follow me ; go back by the 

 lane and I'll bring you the brush if I can save 

 it.' 



