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.
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