t up on a bit of the
moor it delighted me. Suddenly, without any warning, a pack of hounds
dashed by, followed closely by the huntsmen. 'Pull your horse in,
child!' Miss Rayner exclaimed excitedly; 'he is an old hunter.'

It was easy to say, but quite impossible, I found, to act upon. Rawdon
threw up his head, his nostrils quivering with excitement, and then
bolted, and I found myself utterly powerless to check his course.

'Keep your seat, and give him his head,' were the words I heard from
Miss Rayner as I rapidly left her in the distance.

'And keep cool,' I said to myself, knowing I should require all my
nerve. In a few minutes I was in the midst of the hunt, to my great
perplexity, and, passing most of the riders, Rawdon galloped on to the
front. It had been a fortunate thing for me that the bit of moor we
were on was on the level; but now I saw, to my consternation, the
hounds were making for some fields adjoining, and Rawdon was carrying
me straight towards a five-barred gate. I had practised leaps in a
riding-school, but never since, and my heart sank within me. I put up
a quick prayer as we reached it; Rawdon took it without the slightest
difficulty, and to my surprise I found myself still on his back.

'It will be the finish at that next copse, I expect,' a gentleman
called out excitedly, as his horse vainly tried to keep up with mine.
'Look out for that hedge in front,' he added; 'it's a nasty leap--there
is a wide ditch the other side.'

What could I say or do? He evidently did not see that my horse had
obtained complete mastery of me. I set my teeth, and drew my breath as
we approached it. Was I going to be carried over this in safety?

A moment later, and, giddy and confused, I found myself not only over,
but brought to a dead stop by Rawdon, who, quivering all over with
excitement, had brought me right to the finish; only three other
gentlemen were there besides the master of the hounds. I felt in an
extremely awkward position. One of them, Sir Charles Courtenay, I
slightly knew, as he was a great friend of General Forsyth. When he
recognised me, he came forward at once.

'Miss Thorn, I congratulate you. This is the first meet of the season,
and we have had the most splendid run, though a long one. Have you
ever received a brush before?'

'It is all a mistake my being here,' I said with a little laugh, as I
realized the humorous side of the situation. 'I am not one of your
number;