The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-05-02

spect. screw my armed heels painfully
far outwards, to keep the spurs of 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 Underwood rides up beside me and gives
Diamond long loving look over from his
head to his h els.
"He will carry you spleudidly," he says
to me. II shall expect to see you in the
first flight the whole day."
It's far more than expect myself am
not at all ambitious to be in the first flight
Whatever that may be-anl don't mean to
let Diamond jump so much as grain il
can help it.
The horse Gains down by and by; and
when we pull up at the crossroads. where
TITO hounds are waiting, feel much more ut
homo in tho saddle than did when we
started. There are at least fifty horsemen
standing about and numbers of carriages
full of ladies. Every body looks 50 ami
mated and jovial, that make spasmcdic
effort to appear pleasantly at ease I'm
afraid the attempt is rather failure, for
the sigh: of tbs hounds has reused Dia-
mond's spirit, and he is very anxious to be
on. Presently tho whole cavalcade Is
streaming slowly up a muddy lane behind
tho hounds; we pass through a gate into
large field; and the master, aided by the
huntsnan and whips, sends the pack into
cover.
Pudgewood trots up to give me final
word OF advice: "Don't touch his mouth
once you put him ct an obstacle; let him
take his own pace, and you are quite safe"
nod despairing affirmative; somebody
beside ne says, "They have fsund,n and I
SIT IL 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 awav
their cigars, button up their coats, and
press their hats well home .cel dread
1ulIy limp, as we trot towards q white gate
IN the corner OF the field. Suppose it won't
open, and that ara 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
~. ''rhey've got the linen says aman
near NE; ''come on" He canters away and
In ten seconds more we are all gallopny
across the pasture after him. My hat gets
over my eyes and can't see anything:
have lost stirrup and in my frantic
rlunges to recover it. have spurred Dia-
mond to the top of his speed. in what direc-
ton have not the least idea.
Hold hard, sir!" bawls man as 1 flash
past him: but am oblivious to all things
save the certainty of umbling off if don't
get that st:rrup back at once. "'Ware
Mound - screams some one else. as shape
less splatch of liver and white, which l sub
sequently ascertain was hound, appears
below Diamonds hoofs, and bowls pite-
ously as we pass over it. have got all the
relns and my whip in one hand, and am
holding on to the saddle like grim death
with the other. Sudd only the stirrup
swings itself back onto my foot again, and
with supreme effort succeed in pulling
the horse up. l don't like to look around.
hear floods of opprobrious language lev
elled at me, at which must cay I'm good
deal surprised, as have always been told
that the hunting field is the school for man
ners.
"Perhaps, SIR" says an old gentleman in
whom recognize the person Pudgewood
pointed out to me as the Master Of the
Hounds, III you can not control your horse.
you had better keep well in the rear. You
have already disabled one of my hounds"
he says this very authoritatively, and can
tiers on without paying the least attention
to my apologies. l quite agree with him
about keeping in the rear, and shall be per-
fectly satisfied to stay there if Diamond
would consent to the arrangement.
After we have gone good long way,
every one stops galloplng, and come up
with the rest OF the field. am stared at
good deal, don't know why, and hear
something said about q cheque, which l sup
pose relates to that stupid dog rode over.
1t rather dampens my ardor, for have got
y
been no Jumping, for all the gates are open,
or there have been friendly gaps in defsult.
! have been abused sometimes for not await
ing my turn at these places; but can't ex-
plain that the anxiety to get on is all on
Diamonds part and not on mine. am glad
to stop for bit; but in q few minutes q
man says, They've hit of the line," and we
are all laundering down towards hedge of
most forbidding aspect, and without gap
in its whole length. "Now, then, jones'"
sings out Pudgewood, cheerily, "sit down,
and give the old horse his head,''
The advice is wel.-meant but unnecessary:
the old horse has got his head, but have
quite lost mine. We are at the hedge:
there is frightful lurch, and am hoisted
into mid-air, vaguely conscious that the
saddle on Diamonds back is far away
below me. After a wide parabolic aerial
flight, l came down lengthways on the
horse. Thence l rebound helplessly; and
the next thing am aware of is, that am
sitting in very wet furrow, with my la4ss
stuck straight out before me, scraping the
clay OH my face. don't know where the
horse has gone, and don't want to know 1
have had quite enough hunting for one day,
and as soon as every one is out Of sight, I
shall make the best Of my way homewards.
l find the road. and set out on my walk to
Rarnsdale, which must be q good eight
miles of. Never mind; it's better than
hunting.
Halo! what's this? am tramping stead
lily on. whistling to keep up my spirits. when
the sound of hoofs falls on my ear, and
sends cold SILVER down my back. 1t comes
nearer and nearer, and my heart beats like
q hammer, keeping time with the hoofs. l
daren't look round. I acon't look round.
Pooh! after all. perhaps it's only farmer
on his way home. The viIlainous Diamond
is not the only horse in Stoneshire. But
even as try thus to comfort myself and
ward OH apprehension, the animal comes up
beside me, and gruff voice says: Eyer be
thy harse, Meister."
and truth to the winds at these appalling
words, and repudiate ownership as fiercely
a. though had been accused Of stealing the
creature.
The yoke! on Diamonds back stares at me
with his mouth open, in stupid amazement,
Tor fully half aminute. Then he takes off q
very old hat and scratches his head, as
though friction assisted speech. ''But seed
thee a-tumblin' off Jim in the field tree mile
back. Me an my mate was half hocr
a-ketchiu' OF 'im.'