h
scarce perceptible, he swept across it; before I had the time to think,
we were again going at our best pace almost among the hounds.

Over myself, I cast a quick glance back toward Harry, who, by a short
turn of the chase had been thrown a few yards behind me. He charged it
gallantly; but on the very verge, cowed by the brightness of the
rippling water, the gray made a half stop, but leaped immediately,
beneath the application of the galling spur; he made a noble effort, but
it was scarce a thing to be effected by a standing leap, and it was with
far less pleasure than surprise, that I saw him drop his hind legs down
the steep bank, having just landed with fore-feet in the meadow.

I was afraid, indeed, he must have had an ugly fall, but, picked up
quickly by the delicate and steady finger of his rider, the good horse
found some slight projection of the bank, whereby to make a second
spring. After a heavy flounder, however, which must have dismounted any
less perfect horseman, he recovered himself well, and before many
minutes was again abreast of me.

Thus far the course of the hunted fox had lain directly homeward, down
the valley; but now the turnpike road making a sudden turn crossed his
line at right angles, while another narrower road coming in at a
tangent, went off to the south-westward in the direction of the bold
projection, which I had learned to recognize as Rocky Hill; over the
high fence into the road; well performed, gallant horses! And now they
check for a moment, puzzling about on the dry sandy turnpike.

"Dangerous feathers on it now! Speak to it! speak to it, good hound!"

How beautiful that flourish of the stern with which he darts away on the
recovered scent; with what a yell they open it once again! Harry was
right, he makes for Rocky Hill, but up this plaguey lane, where the
scent lies but faintly. Now! now! the road turns off again far westward
of his point! He may, by Jove! And he has left it!

"Have at him then, lads; he is ours!"

And lo! the pace increases. Ha! what a sudden turn, and in the middle
too of a clear pasture.

"Has he been headed, Harry?"

"No, no; his strength is failing."

And see! he makes his point again toward the hill; it is within a
quarter of a mile, and if he gain it we can do nothing with him, for it
is full of earths. But he will never reach it. See! he turns once again;
how exquisitely well those bitches run it; three times he has doubled,
now almost as