THE CUEATE IN SPRING. 



201 



seen lioiinds for lialf an hour till they now flashed noisily 

 and unexpectedly upon them. So excited was one of 

 these hitherto luckless competitors, that, jumping to the 

 conclusion his turn had come at last, he set his horse at 

 the lofty hedge beside him, and bade him carry him to 

 glory. But the good steed had not so readily caught 





■^ 'T-^ 



" AND SHOT HIM IKTO THE GKAVE OF BRIARS." 



the enthusiasm ; he refused to jump either at the same 

 conclusion or at the forbidding bullfinch presented to 

 him, and forthwith entombed himself and his excitable 

 master in the brambly ditch preceding it. At that very 

 moment there dashed into the road, in all the ardour of 

 heated rivalry, another champion, who no doubt had 

 been bearing the brunt of battle all the while the last- 

 named had been cooling his heels in the lane. But he, 

 it seemed, perceived not that his bold leap was to land 

 liim into a road. His clever hunter did, though ; ducked 



