irst intimation of danger leading the flight with a speed and
activity of which I should have thought her languid frame totally
incapable; Lady Scapegrace making use of her long legs with an utter
forgetfulness of her usually grave and tragic demeanour; and the rest
of the party seeking safety helter-skelter.

It was indeed a situation of some peril. Our course to the riverside
had led us through a long narrow strip of meadow-land, bounded by high
impervious thorn fences, such as I knew would be _bullfinches_ in the
winter, and which now, in all the luxuriance of summer foliage,
presented a mass of thorns and fragrance that no mortal could expect
to get through. At either end of the field was a high hog-backed
stile, such as ladies usually make considerable difficulties about
surmounting, but which are by no means so impossible of transit when
an infuriated bull is bringing up the rear. We were already a quarter
of the way across the field, when Miss Mary's exclamation made us
aware of our enemy, who had been quietly cropping the grass in a
corner behind us, but who now, roused by our gaudy dresses and the
piercing screams of some of our party, was lashing himself into a
rage, and looking sufficiently mischievous to be a very unpleasant
acquaintance. It was impossible to turn round and make for the stile
we had just left, as the bull now occupied a position exactly between
us and that place of safety; it was hopeless, particularly in our
light muslin gowns, to attempt the hedge on either side; there was
nothing for it but a fair run to the other end of the meadow, about a
quarter of a mile, and _sauve qui peut_ was now the order of the day.

I will not allow that I am deficient in courage; on the contrary, as
Cousin John says, "I am rather proud of my pluck;" but there is
nothing so contagious as a panic, and I too ran for my very life. The
bull came galloping after us, tossing his head and rolling his great
body about as if he quite enjoyed the fun; nor do I know how the
adventure would have ended, for he must have overtaken some of us
before we could reach our haven, had not Lady Scapegrace caught her
foot in the long grass, and, falling prostrate, buried her face in her
hands, and giving herself up, as she afterwards assured me, to the
prospect of a horrible and violent death. I could not leave her in
such a situation. By an impulse for which I cannot account I stopped
short, turned round, got between the pursuer an