We had already passed above two-thirds of the whole distance that
divides the range of woods, wherein we found him, and the pretty village
which we had constituted our head quarters, a distance of at least three
miles; and now a very difficult and awkward obstacle presented itself to
our farther progress, in the shape of a wide yawning brook between sheer
banks of several feet in height, broken, with rough and pointed stones,
the whole being at least five yards across. The gallant hounds dashed
over it; and, when we reached it, were half way across the grass field
next beyond it.
"Hold him hard, Frank," Harry shouted; "hold him hard, man, and cram him
at it!"
And so I did, though I had little hope of clearing it. I lifted him a
little on the snaffle, gave him the spur just as he reached the brink,
and with a long and swinging leap, so easy that its motion was in truth
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.
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