Year: 1873

something. I cared little what it was,
if only there might be no posts and rails
in that country. like to go, but /
don't like to break my neck; and be-
tween the two, L was uncomfortable.
The last fences l had seen were all wire,
and | was sure that n drag would not be
laid among them. But we had got clear
Of wire fences-wire all through, from
top to bottom-before we began. We
seemed to be on an open heath, riding
round swamp, without an obstacle in
sight. As long as that lasted / could
go as well as the best.


But it did not last. In some three
minutes, having ridden about half
mile, / found myself approaching such
an obstacle as in England would stop
whole field. 1t was not only the height,
but the obduracy Of the wooden barrier,
which seemed as though it were built
against ever-rushing herds of wild-bulls.
At home we are not used to such fences,
and therefore they are terrible to us.
At four foot and n half wall, man
with good heart and good horse will
ride; and the animal, if he knows what
he is about, will strike it, sometimes
with fore as well as hind-feet, and come
down without any great exertion, But
the post and rail in Australia should be
taken with clear, flying leap. There
are two alternatives if this be not done
If the horse and man be heavy enough
and the pace good enough, the top bar
may be broken. 1t is generally about
eight inches deep and four thick, is quite
rough, and apparently new-but, as on
this occasion | saw repeatedly, it may
be broken and, when broken, the horse
and ridergo through unscathed-carrisd
by their own impetus, as candle may
be fired through deal board. The
other chance is to fall, which event
seemed to occur more often even than
the smashing of the rail. Now | was
especially warned that, if | rode slowly
at these fences, and fell, my horse would
certainly fall atop of me; whereas, if l
went fast, L should assuredly be
launched so far ahead that there would
be room for my horse between me and
the fence which had upset me. 1t was
not a nice prospect for man riding
something over sixteen stone!


But now had come the moment
in which | must make up my mind.
Half II dozen men were over the rail.
Half dozen balked it. Two fell,
escaping their own horses by iudicious
impetus. One gentleman got his horse
half over, the fore-quarters being on one
side. and the hind on the other, SO that
the animal was hung up. A lady rode
| at it with spirit, but checked her horse
with the curb, and he, rearing back,
fell on her. Another lady took it In
gallant style. OF those before me no
one seemed to finch it. For a moment
it seemed rs though the honor of all
the hunting-felds in England were in
trusted to my keeping, and | determi led
to dare greatly, let the penalty be what
it might. With firm hands and legs,
but with heart very low down, |
crammed the little brute at the noun
tain of woodwork. As | did so | knew
that he could not carry me over.
Luckily, he knew as much about it as
| did, and made not the slightest at
tempt to rise with me. l don't know
that I ever felt so fond of horse before.
At that moment, an interesting in
diyidual, coming like cannon-ball,
crashed the top bar beside me, and |,


finding that the lady was comfortably
arranging her back hair, with plenty of
assistance, rode gallantly over the
second bar. For the next half-houI j
took care always to go over second bars,
waiting patiently till top bar was
broken. | had found my level, and
had resolved to keep it. On one oc-
casion I thought that top bar never
would be broken and the cessation was
unpleasant, as successful hersemen dis
appeared one after another. But per-
crived that there was regular company
of second-bar men, so that, as long as |
could get over rail three feet high, /
need not fear that I should be left alone.
And hitherto the pace had not been
quick enough to throw the second-bar
men out of the hunt. But soon there
came real misfortune. There was n
ence with only one bar, with only ap-
parent obstacle. am blind as well as
heavy, and | did not see the treacher-
GUS wire beneath. A heavy philanthro-
pist, Just before me, smashed the one,
and / rode on at what / thought to be a
free course. My little horse, seeing no
more than / did, rushed upon the wire,
and the two of us were rolled over in
ignominious dismay. The horse was
quicker on his feet than 1 was, and


liking the sport, joined it at once single
handed, while I was left alone and dis
consolate. Men and horses, even the
sound of men and horses, disappeared
from me, and I found myself in solitude
in forest of gum-trees.


I was certain that we had been run