, 1883-10-06

from whence to get assistance. |
pulled up and thought it out. a bruise
on my right arm suggested some
thing. l had fallen on my left side,
and this bruise was caused by the
saddle tumbling after me. l made
up my mind at once.
Turning in through the first gate l
came to, drove over the turf to u
corner of the field where was "A group
Of trees. Here l took the mare out (;
put the trap under the elms and
turned the cushions, took Off all the
harness but the bride, and saddled
her. Luckily the bride hadno blink
ers. IwOund the long reins round and
round my arm, mounted, and, thank
ing Providence for my knowledge Of
the country, rode at the nearest fence.
There was a faint moonlight to help
us, but it was terribly dark. My heart
was in my mouth as we went at the
fence, which was a big upstlnding
one, but l knew there was no ditch
on the taking-Off side, and l gave
the little mare the word at the right
moment. She jumped clean from
under me, and landed me on the
cruppcr. never shall forget the leap!
If there had been any one to see it
/ could have sold her almost for her
weight in gold.
We were halfway across the next
field before l had regained my seat
properly, and then themad eXhiler-
ation,of the thing took possession Of
both of us. There was a flight of
hurdles next which we took in our
stride. Then a bank and a close
cropped hedge that stood up, black
as Erebus, aginst the gray of the
night, which we jumped as though
it were twice its height. Then a flock
of frightened sheep went scurring
away into the darkness.
1t was all turf, and, for the first
time, l blessed the poverty of the
land that made it worthless to plow.
A dozen fences negotiated in the
same mad fashion, brought US into a
field that skirted the high road and
there we were pounded. There was
a big bull-fnch into the road, with a
deep drop. To go on, parallel with
the road was impossible, for there
was a made-up bank with a cropped
hedge, full Of stakes, and a deep
drain, as | knew, ran on either side.
l rode up and down by the bull-finch
in despair. Was all my trouble to
be in vain?
At last l made up my mind, and
rode, not too fast, at the great, tower
ing, struggling hedge. put my arm
across my face, shut my eyes-intO
it we went, and out of it, with a
a scramble and founder, we came
separately. The bull-finch nearly
brushed me out of the saddle, and
the mare and l dropped side by side
into the road, but both of us on our
legs. Before had time to remount
I heard the sound of approaching
wheels, and man whistling merrily.
"Pull up, Jack ~ l called out.
Jacks whistle ceased, and a more
astonished countenance / never be-
held than the one which looked down
from the mail cart.
"What the dickens" he began.
Then l explained.
"Well," he said, at the end Of it,
without word of commendation for
me. "That is a good pony Of yours.
What shall we dO?'
"Pll tell you," said, for my blood
was up with excitement of the night.
"Drive back to WOrthington, get
Rogers, the constable, and a pistol
apiece, and let them try again"
"Done with you," said Jack, turn
ing around. "YOu ride on ahead and
find Rogers, and I'll wait for you by
the old toll-bar."
In half an hour the constable and
were seated very comfortably on the
back of the mail-cart, and driving
along as fast as Jacks pony could
be induced to go. Our only fear was
lest the fellows should have got tired
of waiting, for it was quite an hour
and half later than the time when
the mail should have passed them.
Down the hill we went, our hearts
humping away with excitement, not
to mention the difficulty of holding
on, and Jack performing "Iy Pretty
Jane" with exquisite variations.
Well, TO cut my story short, we got
one Of them. The constable, in his
eagerness, jumped down directly
after the first man had seized the
horses head, and the two other fel-
lows made off. We got the right
gentleman, though; the identical fel-
low who had been in the Angel bar,
and whose voice l had recognized.
He was tried at the Assizes, and, two
other convictions having been proved
against him, he was sentenced to
seven years penal servitude.
went out with the hounds on Sat
urday, and my little mare WIS the
heorine Of the hour. The squire
himself came up to me, and, after
complimenting us both on our
achievement, said:
"What do you call herr
"Well, Squire" replied, "we
have not given her a name yet"
"Call her Little Fy-5y-night," }"
said he.
And that's how she got her name.
-ArOOsU