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 into 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 ease. 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 as 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