St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-05-30

That's not to the purpose" Mans
ton answered, warmly, iii stand by
the agreement. I'll do better than
that: If I'm beaten I'll quit the
club?"
Willie looked at his friends. Ser
tainly.' he said, coolly, slipping his
green drink. you're counted i'm
There were more than two dozen
hunters held by grooms on the green
turf in front of the club next morn
ing. The men and the women all in
pink sat about the porch, while the
hounds lay on to the bag trail. 1t
was the custom to give them three
fields start. The dogs tore away
with the huntsmen and whippers-in
riding hard. They topped the first
fence in style, swept over stubbie,
rose to the next leap and disap-
peared. The members swarmed down
the steps and mounted. Manton was
a poor rider and eyed his new p,lr-
chase with some misgiving. This was
a great black horse, trim and power
full, with a good deal of name and
his tail unbanged. His nostrils lined
with pink were haring and his eyes
rolling wickedly showed a great deal
of white. The groom with him hung
to his bit and had a pale face. The
horse struck once at the groom with
a forefoot, but missed him. The
groom swore in fear. Manton had
taken a dozen lessons in riding
I II: l. ;,+r
rup and swung up cleverly enough.
Once up, however, it seemed a long
way 20 the ground, and he did not
expect to return there, except in a
half somersault. The Master of the
Hounds gave the halloa, while. Man
ton was still tightly gripping the sad
die with his knees and the bride
with his fingers. The great party
leaped forward instantly spreading
out like fan as it went, each rider
choosing a taking off place for the
first fence. Hard-held, the black
horse reared straight upright
and Manton was glad to loosen che
rein. Then the Gravemaker bounded
out and was away.
| Manton believed the horse to be
vicious, but knew him to be a trained
hunter of high speed and power and
| was too wise to attempt to check him
or rein him in as they neared the
| leap. Instead, he dug in his knees
while the reins went slack and Grave
maker took it like bird, landing
lightly on the farther side and im-
mediately reaching into his stride.
Manton found himself not only seat
ed, but firmly seated. There mad
been no shock and, so far as he could
see, no danger of falling.
"Good jump" a gay voice called
near him and looking cautiously to
his right he saw Miss Granger, 80
yards away, even with him and riding
like a professional, hands well down
and head tilted back, a smile on her
| lips. He called to her and their
horses rose simultaneously at the
next fence, going over with foot
to spare. Another fence was cleared
and then a ploughed field was struck.
In this heavy going Miss Granger
dropped back; her mount was lighter
and she was riding with care; but
Manton had no judgment and the big
black pounded on. He took the fence
at the farther side without slacken-
ing. Indeed, his hunting blood was
up and he was having such fun that
he forgot to be vicious. The brook
came next. Then more fences.
CHANGING around Manton saw Willie
Delay to his left, riding his new
horse, whose chest was fecked with
foam. Beyond him was Reggy Van
Duyck and hundred yards to his
right was Algy Remsen boring in
toward him. He suspected no design
in their presence, but was suddenly
conscious that they had drawn in
upon him, riding now not five yards
apart, and that the. pace had in.
creased to a hurricane drive. The
Gravemaker was fully extended now
and his great limbs were spurning
the ground. Two fields ahead OF
them were the dogs with bellies to
the ground, streaming along with
noses up and tails rigid.
Fifty yards further a hedge ran
athwart their path-a high stiff
hedge of briar and rail and on the
hither side long deep cash in the
earth, the ten foot ditch, with the
barrier beyond. Manton noted it
and felt little sickish. He saw
Willie's face and his checks were
nearly as green as the absinthe. The
others he did not note.
Five seconds passed and then the
mighty muscles under him punched
and gathered for the effort. Next
moment he felt that he was sailing
to the clouds. The ditch and the
hedge shot under him like ribbon.
Then he knew that he was over.
Looking back he saw Willie rising
from the soil, where he had been
thrown in the new hunters fall. The
horses of the two other men had re.
fused the leap.
He was in at the death of the ainse-
seed bag three minutes later and the
huntsman. a smug-faced Englishman
from the fox shires, handed him the
brush with grin. 1t was brush
kent for such hunt. Miss Granger
rode up a little later and Manton
handed the brush to her.
Il should have told you last night"
he said, ''that 1 was party to that
wager
"You became u party after had
told you of it?' she asked.
Yes
She pondered moment and saw
the motives that had swayed him