Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-19

good horse under You, answering gal.
lantly to voice and hand, che hounds on
well ahead, close together as they could
run, and far in the distance, widening in
the long, steady stride of race for life,
the dark speck you knew to be the best old
dog. fox of the season.
''Considine kept on my left hand as we
went up Longbrook valley. He was riding
clever little mare of st. Just's, chestnut
with vile temper, which she displayed at
her fences pretty frequently. Considine
lost his temper once or twice but he man.
aged to get his own way with the little
brute, ard was in the first fight when the
fox was headed and turned west again over
the Wixhope common.
My horse was getting little winded
then, and knew l must ride carefully if |
wished to see anything of the finish. Con-
sidine passed me. His mare had cooled
down, and was going splendidly with a
free yet steady gallop, that left many vet.
eran in the rear. The pace increased as we
neared the edge of the common and caught
sight of Wixhope village, lying in the hol-
low, and the blue smoke wreaths curling
up into the misty sunlight that had
struggled through the bank of gray cloud
above it. Down at the brook we left more
than one good horse and rider-over q
grass-feld or two, through old Dobbs's
farmyard, we held on like grim Death, till
a sitter fence than any we had yet left be.
hind made the best of us look to our girths
and harden our hearts. l was no light
weight at that time, and had some doubts
as to whether my horse would do it; but a
closer view showed me the ground was
sound, and there was nothing much of a
drop, and gave him his head. A VAIN
ing shout rang in my ears Hold hard,
Sir not thers-a bit higher up But my
horse cleared it, fell, aud recovered him.
self before turned round in my saddle to
glance behind.
Some fifty yards lower down there was
a tremendous drop, wide, deep ditch, and
bit OF DOGGY ground, altogether the
nastiest place you can imagine. and there
Considine had jumped. He must have been
mad to attempt it with horse bit tired.
suppose the mare cleared it, though, for
she lay on the bank beyond the ditch. l
saw his fair head down on the wet, red
clay, flashing out of white heels, as the
mare struggled and got up, and l knew
there was something awfully wrong.
81 believe was the first to reach him
but, ere l could speak, half dozen TASKS
were thrust into my hand, and half
dozen dismayed faces bending over the still,
slight figure. st. Just's voice stilled the
momentary confusion. is that you,
Forbes? Come here. Stand back, please,
gentlemen. 1t is fortunate that we have a
doctor at hand
"SOme of them moved away, and
Forbes, the Wixhope surgeon, strobe up
A big, rough-looking fellow he was, with
the voice and touch of a woman. | knelt,
with Georges head on my arm, while he
went to work. He looked up at me in
minute or two, and shook his head. Can't
do anything; he is dying. No, don't try
to move him it will not last long,
Something else, he said but neither
heard nor needed more. They moved still
further away, the other fellows, and stood
staring at each other in silence and dismay
! think st. just was beside me heard
him speak to the doctor once or twice, but
l hadn't thought to give him. I saw
nothing but the white face upturned to the
dull gray sky, and the crushed, motionless
figure that blast of horn or ring of horse.
hoofs would never wake to life and vigor
again.
6 have always been thankful, Charlie,
that there was momentary interval of
consciousness before the end came. l felt
a slight pressure from the hand in mine.
Considine opened his eyes. | had to bend
down very low to catch the broken words,
and st. just, with instructive courtesy,
never seen before. II his remorse and sor-
row were but a passing feeling then, I
know that when his own time came to die
George ConsidIne's name was the last on his
lips.
"'Im done for, Jack, he muttered
brokingly. had always hoped to die
in battle; this is almost as good-eh?
Tell-tell hers that her little hand in
mine mo, no, tell you, st. Just! He
tried to raise himself. Gone away ! is
it, What does he say Ware wheat,
gentlemen, ware wheat Out of the
way there-steady lad-stesdy-'
1t was death no man need fear to
die, Charlie, out under the quiet sky, the
green fields round, your head on mother
Earth /; hushed, friendly voices you will
never hear again floating in your dulled
senses, and some strong, faithful hand
holding yours TO the last. Considine died
peacefully as brave man should, smile
on his lips, and his eyes still seeking
mine even in the little struggle which,
thank God, did not last long.
Yes, yes, they ran to earth at Austey
Wood, and found again there. This wine
is rather muddy, Ell, old fellow ?"
Was it!-or were the keen, dark eyes
that few weeks back had faced death
SO calmly, measuring distances so we'll, in
the hand. to- hand encounter with a dozen
desperate foes, and Major Kenyon, fight.
ing his men, had won his Victoria Cross
were they filled with tears . The
Argosy.