Side by side Sir Galahad and
Whirlwind darted to the end of the fourth inclosure.

Then came a change--a wall of black, heavy thorn rose ahead, which no
one was mad enough to face.

The baronet pulled his bay violently to the right and looked to see the
dashing huntress follow. But, no; the blood of Miss Hunsden and the
"red-roan steed" was up, and straight they went at that awful pace.

"For God's sake, Miss Hunsden!" cried the voice of Lord Ernest
Strathmore, "don't try that!"

But he might as well have spoken to the cataract of Niagara. With a
tremendous rush Whirlwind charged the place. There was a horrible
crash--another--and a plunge downward.

Sir Everard turned sick with horror; but Whirlwind settled into his
stride, and the girl recovered her balance in the very instant, and
away again like the wind.

"Splendidly done, by Jove!" cried Lord Ernest. "I never saw a lady
ride before like that in all my life."

Sir Everard dashed on. His horse was on his mettle; but, do what he
would, the slender, girlish figure, and superb roan kept ahead.
Whirlwind took hedges and ditches before him, disdaining to turn to the
right or left, and after a sharp run of an hour, Miss Hunsden had the
glory and happiness of being one of the few up at the finish in time to
see the fox, quite dead, held over the huntsman's head, with the hounds
hanging expectant around.

Every eye turned upon the heroine of the hour, and loud were the
canticles chanted in her honor. The master of the hounds himself rode
up, all aglow with admiration.

"Miss Hunsden," he said, "I never in all my life saw a lady ride as you
rode to-day. There are not half a dozen men in Devonshire who would
have faced those fences as you did. I sincerely hope you will
frequently honor our field by your presence and matchless riding."

Miss Hunsden bowed easily and smiled.

And then her father came up, his soldierly old face aglow.

"Harrie, my dear, I am proud of you! You led us all to-day. I
wouldn't have taken that nasty place myself, and I didn't believe even
Whirlwind could do it."

Then George Grosvenor and Lord Ernest and the rest of the men crowded
around, and compliments poured in in a deluge.

Sir Everard held himself aloof--disgusted, nauseated--or so he told
himself.

"Such an unwomanly exhibition! Such a daring, masculine leap! And see
how she sits and smiles on those empty-headed fox-hunters, like an
Amazonian queen in her court!