BAGGRAVE. 57 



change the moment the rapids were shot, the rocks left 

 behmd. A seraphic smile in almost every instance 

 softened the stern and rigid features. Once they found 

 themselves in smooth water, tight-drawn lips and 

 wrinkled brows relaxed, light came into their eyes — and 

 ere a dozen strokes had been accomplished men were 

 themselves again, genial, warm and careless beings. 



Suddenly there was a pause ; the hunted fox was found 

 to have been headed right back to the place of starting ; 

 and, with flices already flushed and hot, the field clustered 

 once more at Baggrave Spinney. Away again five 

 minutes later, over the grass fields behind the Hall, and 

 so to the osier bed beyond. To gallop through this, and 

 cross its brook by a bridge, was one safe route. To shoot 

 what is known as Carr Bridge involved a fiiw hundred 

 yards detour ; but gave the next mile (all uphill as it 

 was to either division) on tolerable turf instead of on 

 soppy plough. Medio tidhsuims ibis applied well enough 

 to the huntsman's course ; for he brought both hindlegs 

 after him with onl}^ a scramble ; while the three next 

 comers, who would gladly have availed themselves of 

 the lead, remained spurring and vociferating on the bank, 

 till after all they had to pocket their pride and dash off 

 to follow the others over the little bridge. There was a 

 capital scent, or hounds could not have crossed those 

 cold wet ploughs so rapidly {for even on the best scent- 

 ing days of this autumn the arable has scarcely ever 

 carried a serviceable scent). At the high road on the 

 brow (Queniboro' to Tilton) the parties reunited, and the 

 pack, for a moment, divided. But almost immediately 



