in the water. The poor beast going with a rush off the
plough, came with her neck and shoulders against the opposite bank, and
shot his rider well on to the dry land.

"That's about as good as a dead'un," said George, as he landed a yard
or two to the right. This was ill-natured, and the horse in truth was
not hurt. But a rider, at any rate a young rider, should not take a
lead from a huntsman unless he is very sure of himself, of his horse,
and of the run of the hounds. The next man over was the gentleman in
black, who took it in a stand, and who really seemed to know what he
was about. There were some who afterwards asserted that this was the
Dean, but the Dean was never heard to boast of the performance.

Mrs. Houghton's horse was going very strong with her. More than once
the farmer cautioned her to give him a pull over the plough. And she
attempted to obey the order. But the horse was self-willed, and she was
light; and in truth the heaviness of the ground would have been nothing
to him had he been fairly well ridden. But she allowed him to rush with
her through the mud. As she had never yet had an accident she knew
nothing of fear, and she was beyond measure excited. She had been near
enough to see that a man fell at the brook, and then she saw also that
the huntsman got over, and also the gentleman in black. It seemed to
her to be lovely. The tumble did not scare her at all, as others coming
after the unfortunate one had succeeded. She was aware that there were
three or four other men behind her, and she was determined that they
should not pass her. They should see that she also could jump the
river. She had not rid herself of her husband for nothing. Price, as he
came near the water, knew that he had plenty to do, and knew also how
very close to him the woman was. It was too late now to speak to her
again, but he did not fear for his own horse if she would only give him
room. He steadied the animal a yard or two from the margin as he came
to the headland that ran down the side of the brook, and then took his
leap.

But Mrs. Houghton rode us though the whole thing was to be accomplished
by a rush, and her horse, true to the manner of horses, insisted on
following in the direct track of the one who had led him so far. When
he got to the bank he made his effort to jump high, but had got no
footing for a fair spring. On he went, however, and struck Price's
horse on the quarter so violently as to upset that animal,