The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-11
lContinuedl

whom his wife's fortune enabled 10 cut
a better figure than before. was often in
the field. mounted on a great bony horse
that was not so fast as some. being half
bred. but a wonderful juniper.
Even In this pasume the cousins were
rivals Sir Charles fagorite horse was a
magnificent thoroughbred, who was sell
dom far of at the finish; over good
ground Richards cocktail had no chance
with him; but sometimes. IL toward the
close OF the run they came 10 stin fallows
and strong fences, the great strength Of
the inferior animal and that prudent re-
serve OF his powers which distinguishes
the canny cocktail from the high oiooued
animal would give him the advantage.
or this there occurred. en- a certain 18th
OF November, an example fraugnt with
very serious consequences.
That day the hounds met on Sir
Charles estate Sir Charles and Lady
Bassett breakfasted IN pink; he had cn
his scarlet coat, white tie. lrreproacha5le
buckshins and top-boote Ut seemed a
pity a speck OF dirt should fail on themD
Lady Bassett was In her riding habit,
and when she mounted her pony, and
went TO cover by his side with her blue
velvet cap and her red-brown hair she
looked more like a brilliant flower than a
mere woman
A veteran fox was soon found. and went
away with unusual courage and speed,
and Lady Bassett paced homeward 10
walt her lords return. with an anxiety
men laugh at, but women can appreciate.
II was form OF quiet suffering she had
constantly endured. and never complain
ed, nor even mentioned the subject 10 Sir
Charles but once, and then he pooh-pooh-
ed her fancfes.
The hunt had a burst OF about forty
minutes that left Richard Bassett's cock
tail In the rear: and the fox got into a
large beech wood with plenty OF briers.
and kept dodging about II for two hours,
and puzzled the scent repeatedly.
Richard Bassett elected not TO go wind
ing In and out among trees. risk his
horses legs In rabbit holes. and tire him
for nothing. He had kept for years lit
tie notebook he called Statistics OF Foy
es." and that told him an old dog fox Of
uncommon strength. II dislodged from
that particular wood would slip into Bell
mans Copptce and II driven out OF that
would face the music again. would take
the open country for Higham Borse. and
probably be killed before he got there (;
but once there a regiment OF scythes
might cut him out. but bleeding. sneezing
foxhounds would never work him out at
the tail OF long run.
So Richard Bassett kept out OF the
wood. and went gently on 10 Bell-man's
Coppice and waited outside.
His book proved an oracle After two
hours lodging and manoeuvering the fox
came out at the very end OF Bell-man's
Coppice. with nothing near him but Rich
ard Bassett Pug gave him the white OF
his eve In an ugly leer and headed
straight as a crow for Higham Gorse.
Richard Bassett blew his horn collect
ed the hunt. and laid the dogs on. Away
they went, close together, thunder
mouthed on the hot scent
After three-miles' gsllop they sighted
the fox for a moment just going over the
crest OF rising ground two furlongs of
Then the hullabaloo and excitement grew
furious and one electric fury animated
dogs. men, and horses. Another mile and
the fox ran In sight scarcely a furlong OF :
but many OF the horses were distressed: /:
the Bassetts. however kept up. one by
his horse being fresh the other by his
animals native courage and speed
Then came some meadows. bounded by
thick hedge. and succeeded by n plow-
ed field Of unusual size-eighty acres.
When the fox derted into this hedge the
hounds were yelling at his heels: the hunt
burst through the thin fence expecting
10 see them kill close 10 IT,
But the willy fox had other resources at
his command than speed. Approaching
peril, he doubled and ran sixty yards
down the ditch and the impetuous
hounds rushed forward and overran the
scent. They raved about TO and fro. till
at last one OF the gentlemen deserted the
fox running down a double furrow In the
middle OF the field. He had got into this
and so made his way more smoothly than
his four-footed pursuers could The dogs
were laid on, and away they went helter-
skelter
At the end OF this stiff ground
stiffish leap awaited them; an old quick
Get had been cut down, and all the elm
trees that grew in n. and a new quickset
hedge set on a high bank with double
bitches
The huntsman had an Irish horse that
laughed at this fence: he jumped on TO
the bank, and then jumped of IT into the
next field
Richard Bassett's cocktail came IN
slowly rose high, and landed his fore
feet in the field. and so scrambled on.
Sir Charles went at II rather rashly his
horse. tried hard by the fallow. caught
his heels against the edge OF the bank,
and went headlong into the other ditch.
throwing Sir Charles over his head into
the field. Unluckily some OF the trees
were lying about and sir Charles head
struck one OF these I'm falling: the horse
blundered OUT again. and galloped after
the hounds. sbut the rider lay there mo-
tionless
Nobody stopped al FIRST. the pace was
too good 10 inoure but present Richard
Bassett. who had greeted the accident
With laugh. turned around I'm his sad
ole. and saw his cousin motionless and
two or three gentlemen dismountins at
the place. These were newcomers. Then
he resigned the hunt. and rode back
Sir Charles cap was crushed I'm. and
there was blood on his white wastcoat;
he was verp pale and quite insensihle
The gentlemen raised him. with express
eions Of alarm and kindly concern. ana
inquired Of each other what was best 10
be done.
Richard Bassett saw an opportunity 20
conciiate opinion. and seized ~. He
must be taken home directly" he said.
We must carry him 10 that farmhouse.
and get cart for him"
He helped carry him accordingly.
The farmer lent them cart which
straw. and they laid the insensible baro-
net gently on ~. Richard Bassett support
Ing his head. Gentlemen" said he
rather pompously "at such moment
everything but the tie Of kindred Is for
gotten" Which resoundlng sentiment was
warmly spplauded by the honest squires
They took him slowly and carefully to-
ward Huntercombe. distant about two
miles from the scene of the accident
Tbfa 18th nf Al.