第185章

At that moment there had been a check,--as there is generally after a short spurt, when fox, hounds, and horsemen get off together, and not always in the order in which they have been placed there.

There is too much bustle, and the pack becomes disconcerted. But it enable Fowler to get up, and by dint of growling at the men and conciliating his hounds, he soon picked up the scent. 'If they'd all stand still for two minutes and be d-d to them,' he muttered aloud to himself, 'they'd 'ave some'at to ride arter. They might go then, and there's some of 'em'd soon be nowhere.'

But in spite of Fowler's denunciations there was, of course, another rush. Runks had slunk away, but by making a little distance was now again ahead of the hounds. And unfortunately there was half-a-dozen with him. Lord Chiltern was very wrath.

'When he's like that,' said Mrs Spooner to Tregear, 'it's always well to give him a wide berth.' But as the hounds were now running fast it was necessary, that even in taking this precaution due regard should be had to the fox's line. 'He's back for Harrington bushes,' said Mrs Spooner. And as she said so, she rode at a bank, with a rail at the top of it perhaps a foot-and-a-half high, with a deep drop in the field beyond. It was not a very nice place, but it was apparently the only available spot in the fence.

She seemed to know it well, for as she got close to it she brought her horse almost to a stand and so took it. The horse cleared the rail, seemed just to touch the bank on the other side, while she threw herself back almost on to his crupper, and so came down with perfect case. But she, knowing that it would not be easy to all horses, paused a moment to see what would happen.

Tregear was next to her and was intending to 'fly' the fence. But when he saw Mrs Spooner pull her horse and pause, he also had to pull his horse. This he did so to enable her to take her leap without danger or encumbrance from him, but hardly so as to bring his horse to the bank in the same way. It may be doubted whether the animal he was riding would have known enough and been quiet enough to have performed the acrobatic manoeuvre which had carried Mrs Spooner so pleasantly over the peril. He had some idea of this, for the thought occurred to him that he would turn and ride fast at the jump. But before he could turn he saw that Silverbridge was pressing on him. It was thus his only resource to do as Mrs Spooner had done. He was too close to the rail, but still he tried it. The horse attempted to jump, caught his foot against the bar, and of course went over head-foremost. This probably would have been nothing, had not Silverbridge with his rushing beast been immediately after them. When the young lord saw that his friend was down it was too late for him to stop his course. His horse was determined to have the fence,--and did have it. He touched nothing, and would have skimmed in glory over the next field had he not come right down on Tregear and Tregear's steed. There they were, four of them, two men and two horses in one confused heap.

The first person with them was Mrs Spooner, who was off her horse in a minute. And Silverbridge too was very soon on his legs. He at any rate was unhurt, and the two horses were up before Mrs Spooner was out of her saddle. But Tregear did not move. 'What are we to do?' said Lord Silverbridge, kneeling down over his friend. 'Oh, Mrs Spooner, what are we to do?'

The hunt had passed on and no one else was immediately with them.