The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-04-27

ground will be tolerably soft if l meet with
an accident.
Il wish you had red coat" says my wife
who has come to inspect me; 'and-I may
| be wrong-but l think, Algernon, you have
put your spurs on upside down"
Mrs. Jones' father was noted hunting
man in the shires and she ought to know
something about these matters.
Dear me! So have. Thanks for MOTTO
| ing it. I'll put them right at once"
They are soon readjusted under Mrs
Jones' directions, and l go down stairs
to the breakfast-roOm. | had no
idea it was so difficult to walk
| down stairs with spurs on. Twice the
rowels catch in the carpet, and l only save
| myself from bad fall By clinging to the
banisters with both hands. Finally, turn
round and walk down backwards, arriving
| in safety on the mat without being seen. l
wonder how other fellows manage, for l
| don't recollect ever having heard any one
complain of this difficulty before.
Morning, Jones'" said Pudgewood
through a stratum of buttered toast. Come
along; we haven't much time to spare.
The meets at Holly Copse, seven miles
away, at eleven O'Clock; and it's near ten
now. viii you ride out, or take seat in
the Gog-cart!"
If l could take a seat in the cart and
keep it, should select that without heSita-
ton; but little practice in the saddle
will do me good, perhaps, SC say that Twill
jog out quietly.
Pudgewood mods approvingly. always
best to ride to cover, l Think he says; ,
you have time to shake down in your saddle
before the days work"
! hear the horses being walked up and
down on the gravel outside, and the sound
| rather takes away my appetite. l should
like to know little more about the animal
! am to ride before mount, and therefore
seize an early opportunity OF asking Fudge
wood about it.
This gray, which you have been good
enough to lend me, Pudgewood, have you
had him long,"
Ny host screws up his eyebrows and
makes brief mental calculation. 1--WE
hunted old Diamond now for nine seasons :;
he's never given me a single fal, and
never knew him turn his head from any
thing yet
Haven't you. indeedl" ask family.
mot once" affirms Pudgewood, soemnly
'He can take fve-foot wall as easily as
you could jump over d straw. He loves
Jumping, that horse"
Loves jumping, does he! | listen with
sickly interest while Pudgewool continues
to dilate upon old Diamonds merits. He
appears TO be horse of considerable
strength Of character, from his masters
account; and fear that if he insists upon
indulging in his taste for jumping while |
am on his back some difference of opinion is
like v to arise between US. do not love
Jumping
Pudgcwood is certainly most thoughtful
man. he arms me with a huge hunting
crop, whose horn handle, he says, will be
useful to open gates with. It's u trouble
some thing to carry, and gets fearfully en-
twined with the reins; but if it is to serve
me as gate-opener, no earthly power shall
induce me TO leave it behind.
| am mounted now. l felt a little pale
when | came out of the house: but the eX-
ertion of climbing into the saddle, with the
groom's assistance, has made nc purple in
the face, for am stoutish man of no great
stature and not SO active as used to be.
les trif1e fresh, sir" says the groom
as he puts my right foot into the stirrup.
Don't touch i'm with the spur or ride i'm
on the curb, and e'll 60 like lamb"
The horse Is tossing his head and champ
ing his bits with most unlamblike ferocity:
indeed his whole demeanor warns me to
treat his peculiarlties with the utmost re-
spcct. | screw my armed heels painfully
far outwards, to keep the spurs off his sides
and pick the bride up very gingerly;
won't pull the curb-rein for any considera-
ton. try to look comfortable and happy
as Fudgewood rides up beside me and gives
DiamGnd long loving look over from his
head to his h els.
HE will carry you splendidly." he says
to me. 81 shall expect to see you in the
first flight the whole day"
It's far more than l expect myself. I am
not at all ambitious to be in the first fight
whatever that may be-an1 don't mean to
let Diamond jump 80 much as Il g:-in if |
can help it,
The horse Gains down by and by; ard
when we pail up at the roads. where
the hounds are waiting, feel much more at
home in the saddle than did when we
started. There are at least fifty horsemen
standing about and numbers of carriages
full OF ladies. Every body looks so ami
mated and jovial, that make Il spasmodic
effort to appear pleasantly at ease. I'm
afraid the attempt is rather "a failure, for
the sight of the hounds has reused Dia.
uoHu sI'iIll, anu ue lS very dHNlOuS 10 De
off. Presently the whole cavalcade is
streaming slowly up a muddy lane behind
the hounds; we pass through gate into a
large field; and the master, aided BY the
huntsman and whips, sends the pack into
cover.
Pudgewood trots up to give me u final
word of advice: Don't touch his mouth
once you put him at an obstacle; let him
take his own pace, and you are quite safe"
l nod despairing Affirmative; somebody
beside me says, "They have found" and
sit in awful suspense awaiting the result.
One of the whips appears at the corner of
the wood into which the hounds were sent,
and holds up his cap. Men throw away
their cigars, button up their coats, and
press their hats we'll home | feel dread
fully limp, as we trot towards white gate
in the corner of the field. Suppose it won't
open, and that am called upon to put Dia-
mond at the ratings: They are nearly
three feet high, and look awfully strong
The gate is not locked, however; and when
we get through it, we see the hounds pour
ing out of the wood, noses down and tales
up. They've got the line " says a man
near me; come on" He canters away and
in ten seconds more we are all galloping
across the pasture after him. My hat gets
over my eyes and l can't see nything; |
have lost a stirrup, and in my frantic
plunges to recover it, l have spurred Dia-
mond to the top of his speed, in what direc-
| tiOn have NOT the lpaSt idea