an approving murmur of assent. The Major was the author of
"Schooling and Riding British Hunters;" however, it was not only his
authority which swayed the company, but individual conviction. Of the
dozen people in the room, excepting Pringle, all rode to hounds with
more or less enthusiasm, and no one had ever seen any one hunting
without a saddle and no one had ever experienced any desire to try the
experiment. Obviously it was an absurdity.

"Nevertheless," observed Lord Frederic, "I must say their riding was
very creditable--quite as good as one sees on any polo field in
England."

Major Hammerslea looked at him severely, as if his youth were not wholly
an excuse. "It is, as I said," he observed. "It is one thing to ride an
American pony and another to ride a British Hunter. One requires
horsemanship, the other does not. And horsemanship," he continued,
"which properly is the guiding of a horse across country, requires years
of study and experience."

Lord Frederic looked somewhat unconvinced but he said nothing.

"Of course the dear Major (she called it deah Majaw) is unquestionably
right," said Mrs. Ascott-Smith.

"Undoubtedly," said Mr. Carteret. "I suppose that he has often seen
Indians ride?"

"Have you often seen these Indians ride?" inquired Mrs. Ascott-Smith of
the Major.

"Do you mean Indians or the Red Men of North America?" replied the
Major. "And do you mean upon ponies in a show or upon British Hunters?"

"Which do you mean?" asked Mrs. Ascott-Smith.

"I suppose that I mean American Indians," said Mr. Carteret, "and either
upon ponies or upon British Hunters."

"No," said the Major, "I have not. Have you?"

"Not upon British Hunters," said Mr. Carteret.

"But do you think that they could?" inquired Lord Frederic.

"It would be foolish of me to express an opinion," replied Mr. Carteret,
"because, in the first place, I have never seen them ride British
Hunters over jumps--"

"They would come off at the first obstacle," observed the Major, more in
sorrow than in anger.

"And in the second place," continued Mr. Carteret, "I am perhaps
naturally prejudiced in behalf of my fellow countrymen."

Mrs. Ascott-Smith looked at him anxiously. His sister had married a
British peer. "But you Americans are quite distinct from the red
Indians," she said. "We quite understand that nowadays. To be sure, my
dear Aunt--" She stopped.

"Rather!" said Mrs. Archie Brawle. "You don't even intermarry with t