The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-02-19

"You were not listening! You were
not even thinking Of what I was saying."
she began, her white teeth set, her soft
lips hvid with wrath: bot she suddenly
controlled herself-none toe soon. for
Dana came trotting up.
Say. Perry, what do you make that
out to be down there in the valley: Col
Brainard and feel sure it's n lady on
horseback"
And. looking at Perry, Mrs Bclknap
saw that he had flushed to the very tenn
ples-that an eager, joyous light had
sprung to his eyes: but before she could
say word there came a shout from the
huntsman. yell from the leading line, a
simultaneous yelp from the ours and
mongrels among the ''irregulars," and
her horse saped at the bit and went tear
ing of toward the Monee, foremost in
mad pursuit Of wild careering "jack."
Gomez she called, as she glanced
over her shoulder; but the sight was one
that only added to her wrath. Nolan,
pluIging and snortsng. was held to the
spot, while his rider, sitting like CEN
taur, was still eagerly gazing over into
the distant cottonwoods- The next in
slant she realized that all the field were
laundering at her heels, and the instinct
of the sportsman came to her aid. She
could not be beaten in the chase
For half mile Bunny shot like streak
Of light straight away southwestward,
the hounds punched in slaty. sweeping
cloud not thirty yards behind the bobbing
f,xft ~ hto faI Thar h.
circle towards the stream. as though to
head for "break" that extended some
rods back from the line of bluffs. Another
minute and he had reached its partial
shelter and darted in. For the next min
ute he was lost to sight Of his human
pursuers, but presently flashed into view
again down in the creek bottom and
''streaking it" up along the northern
bank, with the whole pack at his heels.
The bluffs were steep just here, some of
the riders a trihe timid, and all the
"field" reined in little as they made
the descent; Dana, Mrs. Belknap, Parke,
Mrs. Lawrence, Graham, the colonel and
Mrs. Sprague Strengthened out for their
pursuit in the order named, the instant
they reached the level of the valley. The
hounds were far ahead by this time, and
the two light troopers in charge of them
close at their heels; but who-what was
the figure that flashed into view between
those huntsmen and the field, darting like
arrow from the fringe Of willows and
dashing straight in wake of the quarry?
Thirty yards ahead of the foremost riders
Of the Rossiter party a superb English
hunter, the bit in his teeth, his eyes aflre
and his head high in air, fresh, vigorous,
raging with long imprisoned passion for
the sport of the old island home, gaining
on the hounds at every stride, and defy
ing the utmost efforts of his rider, leaped
from the covert of the timber into sight
reluctant victim on his back.
In vain with might and main she
leaned back and tusged at the reins:
though checked in his speed, the horse
still tore ahead, keeping straight for the
hounds, leaping in his easy stride every
little gully or branch" that crossed his
path. Bunny took a sudden dive into
the timber, fairly flew across a narrow,
gravelly rapid, and darted up on the op-
posite bank; the hounds veered in pur-
suit, the huntsmen wavered and sought
along the bank for better place to cross,
but the mettlesome English bay lunged
through in the very wake of the hounds,
crumbling the sandy banks and crashing
through the pebbly stream bed. Out on
the southern slopes went Bunny, close
followed by the hounds; out on their trail
went the big hunter, but his riders hat
has been brushed away in the wild dash
through the timber, and now flame of
beautiful golden hair-a great wave of
light-hies on the wind over his glossy
back, and. though she still leans over the
cantle tugging hard at the reins, she is
plainly losing strength. Some of the
Rossiter party burst through the timber
in pursuit; some still ride hopefully up
the north bank, and these are rewarded,
for once again poor, badgered, bewil-
dered Bunny makes a sudden swerve,
and, throwing half the hounds far be-
hind, darts a second time to the shelter
Of the banks, with the other half closer
at his heels than before
Those who were watching see the big
hunter making a long. circular sweep.
then once again bring up in the wake of
the leaders, once more 20 leaping, plung
ing, crashing through the stream, and,
in another minute, rabbit, hounds.
huntsmen, the "feld." and the fair in
cognita are all strung out in chase along
the northern shore, and all eyes can Bee
that she is an English girl and well nigh
exhausted. Still, no man can catch that
hunter and lay hands on the rein. She
is riding with the foremost now, leading
the troopers, even, and still Bunny spins
along in front. the hounds gnashing not
six feet behind him. A little point of
bluff iuts out just ahead; the stream
| winds round its base and takes q turn
aorthward for a dozen rods. Bunny
shoots the turn like the pilot OF the
| lightning express, the hounds strain to
make it without loss of vantage gained,
| :he big hunter sways outward To the
very verge Of the steep and crumbling
bank. and q groan goes up from the
breathless pursuers: but he rallies and
straightens once more in the track, and
the golden hair. streaming in advance,
| is the oriaamule of the chase. Then as
:hey round the point Dana gives shout
Of JOY. Straight down the slopes,
| straight and swift as rode the daring
huzzar from whom he got his name,
| when he bore the fatal message like
arrow flight from the Sapoune crest at
| Balaklava, down the bluffs to the right
front comes Nolan, with Ned Perry on
his blackberry, with set, resolute. yet
| almost frenzied face-Perry with eyes
that fash blue fire In the intensity of
their gaze. and Nolan's vigorous strides
have brought hin in circling sweep, in
Just ten seconds more, close to the hun
ter's quarter, close behind the futtering
skirt
Just ahead there is another sudden
turn to the left; the stream goes one
way, the bluffs another, and between
them lies fve-acre patch Of level prairie
thickly studded, here. there, everywhere,
with tiny earthen mounds and tiny, gap
ing, treacherous holes-a prairie dog