, 1881-07-15
like movement, which was anything but

AlHOSI Dc1OTc L TcullZc tue DO-
sition, stern voice shouted: ''Now, you
sir, mind the hounds, will you?" and a
muttered oath accompanied by an eX-
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 Gar seemed to
think it great fun to dance, the master
at this moment gave the signal to ''throw
off" 1t nearly came being emphatic in
my case. In less time than it takes to
write, fox was started. lost my hat
and my head at one and the same
moment. and nearly my seat, and the
next thing that remember with any de-
gree of distinctness is cinging with the
blind energy of a drowning man to the
pommel of the saddle, and regarding
with despair huge fence which seemed
to approach me at terrific rate. There
was a sudden rush, tremendous spring
I seemed to have left the lower part of
my waistcoat 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, bat CZar still urged on his wild
career" with unabated speed. / shook
back into the saddle, and a passing re-
gret that had neglected to insure my
life against accidents fitted through my
mind. l continued to cling to the POM
mel, and in this manner We negotiated
three more fences and got into quiet
lane, when, much to my astonishment,
Gar stopped dead short. We had, to
my sincere delight, lost the houndsl L
patted Gar gently on the neck, and
quickly dismounting led him slowly
down the lane. We had not proceeded
far when discerned country lad com
ing toward me, carrying in his hand my
lost hat, which had been battered out of
all shape by horses hoof. 1 recovered
the lost headgear, climbed back into the
saddle intending to walk Gar quietly
homeward, when l could discover in
what direction home was. But as i'll
luck would have it, at the precise mo-
ment the sound of the horn was heard far
off in the distance, Gar picked up his
ears and gave sudden start, and on my
attempting to check him, reared straight
on end, while I lovingly clasped him
around the neck with both arms, and
with one plunge forward and upward we
left that lane and that country youth
forever. We landed in a pasture, and
were going at a fearful pace up slight
incline. Arrived at the top, the whole
hunt was to be seen coming down the
valley.
And now Gar would take no denial.
Rushing down the slope at a speed to
which all former exertions of his had
been as mere child's play, he few over a
HI 4, T
self good field in front of the foremost
flight of horsemen and close on to the
hounds! still onwardl until looming in
the distance appeared struggling line
of stunted willows, which, even to my
initiated vision, meant water" Splashi
there goes the foxi Splash! splashi there
go the hounds! ] hear voices shouting
behind me as if in warning, but all 1 can
do is to hold on and trust to Providence.
Our pace, if possible, increases, and with
a sort of idea of going up in balloon,
Gar and myself seemed suspended IN
the air miles above the brook. 1t seems
ages before We come down again, which
We do with a jerk that would have un-
seated me had it not been for Gar sud-
denly springing forward and shaking me
back to my proper place. We rushed on
to where the hounds seemed to be scram-
bling for something and quarreling
amongst themselves have run into
the fox, and Gar comes to a standstill
just outside the worrying pack.
Up comes the first whip and fiogs them
off their prey, and see Sir Harry ad-
vancing toward me, red in the face and
violently gesticulating with his heavy
hunting crop. What have I done? Have
l unconsciously infringed some point in
hunting etiquette, or have hurt Gear?
Neither the one or the other. Sir Harry,
hastily hinging himself off his steaming
horse, comes up to me and seizing me by
the hand nearly wrings my arms off and
bursts out with:
well done, my boy! You rascal,
you! You've pounded the whole of us.
Never saw such going in all my life.
Don't believe there's another man in the
field that could have done it. Here,
Lord George"-to the noble master who
at that moment rode up-'permit me to
introduce my friend, MIR. De Boots."
Delighted to make your acquaint-
ance, sir" says his lordship, shaking me
heartily by the hand. ''I trust to be
able to show you some good sport if you
are thinking of remaining in our coun-
try, though if you do we shall all have
~ iOOh " JUL lOT you went ike
bird, sir"
While he is speaking. several gentle
men ride mp, to all of whom I am intro
duced, and all of whom praise what they
are pleased to call my "plucky riding"
Miss Kate comes up as the last obse-
quies are being performed, and on the
huntsman, obsdient to a nod from his
lordship. who is no lover of women in the
hunting field, presenting me with the
brush, I handed it to her with all the
grace compatible with mud-stained
habihments, and crushed and battered
hat.
We rode home together-Sir Harry
and an old crony of his riding some dis
tance in the rear. Gar was complacent
and had apparently had quite enough, at
any rate for that day; SO thinking that 1
might never have another such an oppor-
tunity, gently took Kate's whip haud
and ventured to put that question which
had been so long on the tip of my
tongue.
Her answer was whispered 'Yes;"
but suddenly turned to me she added:
son one condition"
''Name it, dearest" replied.
"You are so rash and daring that YOU
must promise me never to hunt after we
are marriedr'