"I was with them miles beyond that,"says another."There were five or six men rode the brook,"continues our philosopher,who names the four or five,not mentioning the unfortunate who had spoken last as having been among the number."Well;then he went across by Ashby Grange,and tried the drain at the back of the farmyard,but Bootle had had it stopped.A fox got in there one day last March,and Bootle always stops it since that.So he had to go on,and he crossed the turnpike close by Ashby Church.Isaw him cross,and the hounds were then full five minutes behind him.He went through Frolic Wood,but he didn't hang a minute,and right up the pastures to Morley Hall.""That's where I was thrown out,"says the unfortunate who had boasted before,and who is still disposed to boast a little.But our philosopher assures him that he has not in truth been near Morley Hall;and when the unfortunate one makes an attempt to argue,puts him down thoroughly."All I can say is,you couldn't have been there and be here too at this moment.Morley Hall is a mile and a half to our right,and now they're coming round to the Linney.He'll go into the little wood there,and as there isn't as much as a nutshell open for him,they'll kill him there.It'll have been a tidy little thing,but not very fast.I've hardly been out of a trot yet,but we may as well move on now."Then he breaks into an easy canter by the side of the road,while the unfortunates,who have been rolling among the heavy-ploughed ground in the early part of the day,make vain efforts to ride by his side.They keep him,however,in sight,and are comforted;for he is a man with a character,and knows what he is about.He will never be utterly lost,and as long as they can remain in his company they will not be subjected to that dreadful feeling of absolute failure which comes upon an inexperienced sportsman when he finds himself quite alone,and does not know which way to turn himself.
第13章 THE MAN WHO HUNTS AND NEVER JUMPS(3)（1 / 3）