, his unfortunate rider clinging round his
neck, expecting to have the beast back over upon him. Another little wiry
chestnut, with abundance of rings, racing martingale, and tackle generally,
just turned tail on the crowd and ran off home as hard as ever he could lay
legs to the ground; while a good steady bay cob, with a barrel like a butt,
and a tail like a hearth-brush, having selected the muddiest, dirtiest
place he could find, deliberately proceeded to lie down, to the horror of
his rider, Captain Greatgun, of the royal navy, who, feeling himself
suddenly touch mother earth, thought he was going to be swallowed up alive,
and was only awoke from the delusion by the shouts of the foot people,
telling him to get clear of his horse before he began to roll.

[Illustration]

Hercules would fain have joined the truant set, and, at the first
commotion, up went his great back, and down went his ears, with a single
lash out behind that meant mischief, but Mr. Sponge was on the alert, and
just gave him such a dig with his spurs as restored order, without exposing
anything that anybody could take notice of.

The sudden storm was quickly lulled. The spilt ones scrambled up; the loose
riders got tighter hold of their horses; the screaming fair ones sank
languidly in their carriages; and the late troubled ocean of equestrians
fell into irregular line _en route_ for the cover.

Bump, bump, bump; trot, trot, trot; jolt, jolt, jolt; shake, shake, shake;
and carriages and cavalry got to Ribston Wood somehow or other. It is a
long cover on a hill-side, from which parties, placing themselves in the
green valley below, can see hounds 'draw,' that is to say, run through with
their noses to the ground, if there are any men foolish enough to believe
that ladies care for seeing such things. However, there they were.

'Eu leu, in!' cries old Tom, with a wave of his arm, finding he can no
longer restrain the ardour of the pack as they approach, and thinking to
save his credit, by appearing to direct. 'Eu leu, in!' repeats he, with a
heartier cheer, as the pack charge the rotten fence with a crash that
echoes through the wood. The whips scuttle off to their respective points,
gentlemen feel their horses' girths, hats are thrust firmly on the head,
and the sherry and brandy flasks begin to be drained.

'Tally ho!' cries a countryman at the top of the wood, hoisting his hat on
a stick. At the magic sound, fear comes over some, joy over othe