Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-07-23

nice creature.
Indeed |" said /. "I am rejoiced to
hear it. OF course you accompany us
to the meet y
"Yes." abe replied. "and papa has
said that as you are going out I might
even follow the hounds little way.
You'll look after me. won't you, Mr..
De BootsY
promised to do my devoirs, but in
my heart of hearts thought I should re-
quire some one to look after me.
The following morning at breakfast,
which was early on account Of our hav-
ing to go some distance to the meet,
tho horses were brought round-s
sturdy, thick-set, quiet-looking weight
carrier, neat-looking gray mare. and
bright, fidgety chestnut. The latter
gave his attendant groom some trouble,
and insisted ON waltzing around on his
hind legs q good deal more than ap-
peared to me to be necessary.
"I'am afraid your papa will find that
animal rather Troublesome" I remarked
TO Kate.
"That," she answered, "oh, that's
not papa's-that's the one you are going
to ride-Czar."
My appetite left me, and as rose and
walked, in as unconcerned manner as |
could assume to the window, saw that
the Gar had reversed tho order of
things by putting his head between his
forelegs and lashing out with his heels
in a very vicious. looking and anything
but "playful" manner.
A general move was now made to the
front door. Kate looked at me and
evidently expected me 10 "put her up
but / knew better than to attempt it,
and pretended to be intent on buckling
q strap of the pair of spurs Sir Harry
had lent me. until she was safe in the
saddle. Czar was then brought up for
me to mount, which, after several abor-
tive attempts on my part, I effected, and
we all logged on toward the meet Con-
trary to my expectation Czar behaved
in most exemplary manner, and even
ventured to swing my whip with a
iaunty air without his taking the slight
est notice. But it was too good to
last. Presently red coat popped out
on us from by-lane, and the Czar's
ears began to twitch. Two or three
more horsemen overlook us, and his
tail began to describe circles, and he
proceeded on his way with crab-like
movement, which was anything but ele-
CANT and eminently disconcerting.
Almost before could realize the po
sition, stern voice shouted: "Now, you
sir, mind the hounds, will your" and a
muttered oath, accompanied by an e1-
preston which sounded very much like
"tailor," drew my attention to the fact
that we had arrived in field by the
side of a wood, in which was gathered
some seventy or eighty horsemen and
pack of hounds. Luckily for myself,
and also for the hounds, on whom Czar
seemed to think it great fun to dance,
the master at this moment gave the sig
nal to "throw off," It nearly came
being prophetic in my case. In less
time than it takes to write, fox was
started. l lost my hat and my head at
one and the same moment, and nearly
my seat, and the next thing that I re.
member with any degree of distinct
ness is clinging with the blind energy
of a drowning man to the pommel Of
the saddle, and regarding with despair
a huge fence which seemed to approach
me at terrific rate. There was a sud-
den rush, a tremendous spring. seem
to have left the lower part of my waist
coat and its contents on the other side
of the obstacle-and, with jolt which
pitched me somewhere in the vicinity
| OF Cars ears, we were over.
The field we landed in was a stiffish
fallow, but Czar still "urged on his
wild career" with unabated speed. /
shook back into the saddle, and pass
ing regret that had neglected to insure
my life against accidents fitted through
my mind. I continued to cling to the
pommel, and in this manner we nego-
tiated three more fences, and got into
quiet lane, when, much to my aston.
ishment Gear stopped dead short. We
had, to my sincere delight, lost the
hounds ! I patted Gar gently on the
neck, and quickly dismounting, led
him slow y down the lane. We had not
proceeded far when discerned coun-
try lad coming toward me, carrying in
his hand my lost hat, which had been
battered out Of all shape by horses
hoof. recovered the lost headgear
climbed back into the saddle intending
to walk Ozar quietly homeward, when
I could discover in what direction home
was. But as ill-luck would have it, at
that precise moment the sound of horn
was heard far off in the distance. Czar
pricked up his ears and gave sudden
start, and on my attempting to check
him, reared straight on end, while ]
lovingly clasped him round the neck