第11部分(第1/7 頁)

into　a　hole　and　came　to　the　ground；　sending　me　and　my　loaded　gun　on　to　my　head　some　five　or　six　yards　further　on。　I　had　hardly　e　to　my　senses　and　caught　my　horse　when　I　saw　an　oribe　pass　like　a　flash　of　light；　taking　great　bounds。　I　turned　and　went　away　after　him；　and　I　must　say　I　never　had　a　more　exciting　ride　in　my　life。　Away　we　went　like　the　wind；　over　hill　and　down　dale；　and　very　dangerous　work　it　was；　for　being　all　through　long　grass　the　holes　were　hidden。　Every　now　and　then　I　felt　my　horse　give　a　violent　shy　or　a　bound；　and　then　I　knew　we　had　nearly　got　into　some　bottomless　pit；　if　we　had；　going　at　that　rate　the　horse　would　most　likely　have　broken　his　legs　or　I　my　neck。　And　so　on　for　about　two　miles；　I　gaining　very　slowly；　but　still　gaining　on　the　buck；　when　suddenly　down　he　popped　into　a　bush。　It　is　curious　how　rarely　one　does　the　right　thing　at　the　right　time。　If　I　had　done　the　right　thing　I　should　have　got　my　buck　—　but　I　didn’t。　Instead　of　getting　off　and　walking　him　up；　I　sent　one　barrel　into　the　bush　after　him　and　gave　him　the　other　as　he　rose。　By　this　means　I　hit　him　very　hard　but　did　not　kill　him。　However；　I　made　sure　of　him　and　struck　the　spurs　into　my　horse　to　catch　him。　To　my　surprise　he　only　gave　a　jump；　and　I　found　myself　embedded　in　a　bog　whilst　my　wounded　buck　slowly　vanished　over　a　rise。　I　went　back　in　a　sweet　temper；　as　you　may　imagine。

We　also　hunt　with　hounds；　and　get　very　good　runs　sometimes。　I　very　nearly　lost　my　watch　and　chain　in　one　the　other　day。　I　was　tearing　along　at　full　gallop　through　the　long　grass　when　I　thought　I　felt　an　extra　weight　at　the　end　of　my　whip　which　was　resting　on　the　pommel　of　my　saddle。　I　looked　down　and　saw　my　watch　and　chain　hanging　to　it。　It　was　what　one　may　call　a　lucky　escape。　。　。　。　There　is　little　news