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The hunt was streaming down it。 The fox I could not see； but the
dogs were in full cry； their noses down； their tails up； so close together that
they might have been one great yellow and white moving carpet。 And
behind them rode the horsemenmy faith； what a sight！ Consider every
type which a great army could show。 Some in hunting dress； but the
most in uniforms： blue dragoons； red dragoons； red…trousered hussars；
green riflemen； artillerymen； gold…slashed lancers； and most of all red； red；
red； for the infantry officers ride as hard as the cavalry。
Such a crowd； some well mounted； some ill； but all flying along as
best they might； the subaltern as good as the general； jostling and pushing；
spurring and driving； with every thought thrown to the winds save that
they should have the blood of this absurd fox！ Truly； they are an
extraordinary people； the English！
But I had little time to watch the hunt or to marvel at these islanders；
for of all these mad creatures the very horse upon which I sat was the
maddest。 You understand that he was himself a hunter； and that the
crying of these dogs was to him what the call of a cavalry trumpet in the
street yonder would be to me。 It thrilled him。 It drove him wild。
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Again and again he bounded into the air； and then； seizing the bit between
his teeth； he plunged down the slope and galloped after the dogs。
I swore； and tugged； and pulled； but I was powerless。
This English General rode his horse with a snaffle only； and the beast
had a mouth of iron。 It was useless to pull him back。 One might as well
try to keep a grenadier from a wine…bottle。 I gave it up in despair； and；
settling down in the saddle； I prepared for the worst which could befall。
What a creature he was！ Never have I felt such a horse between my
knees。 His great haunches gathered under him with every stride； and he
shot forward ever faster and faster； stretched like a greyhound； while the
wind beat in my face and whistled past my ears。 I was wearing our
undress jacket； a uniform simple and dark in itselfthough some figures
give distinction to any uniformand I had taken the precaution to remove
the long panache from my busby。 The result was that； amidst the mixture
of costumes in the hunt； there was no reason why mine should attract
attention； or why these men； whose thoughts were all with the chase；
should give any heed to me。 The idea that a French officer might be
riding with them was too absurd to enter their minds。 I laughed as I rode；
for； indeed； amid all the danger； there was something of comic in the
situation。
I have said that the hunters were very unequally mounted； and so at the
end of a few miles； instead of being one body of men； like a charging
regiment； they were scattered over a considerable space； the better riders
well up to the dogs and the others trailing away behind。
Now； I was as good a rider as any； and my horse was the best of them
all； and so you can imagine that it was not long before he carried me to the
front。 And when I saw the dogs streaming over the open； and the red…
coated huntsman behind them； and only seven or eight horsemen between
us； then it was that the strangest thing of all happened； for I； too； went
madI； Etienne Gerard！
In a moment it came upon me； this spirit of sport； this desire to excel；
this hatred of the fox。 Accursed animal； should he then defy us？ Vile
robber； his hour was come！
Ah； it is a great feeling； this feeling of sport； my friends； this desire to
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trample the fox under the hoofs of your horse。 I have made the fox chase
with the English。 I have also； as I may tell you some day； fought the box…
fight with the Bustler； of Bristol。 And I say to you that this sport is a
wonderful thingfull of interest as well as madness。
The farther we went the faster galloped my horse； and soon there were
but three men as near the dogs as I was。
All thought of fear of discovery had vanished。 My brain throbbed；
my blood ran hotonly one thing upon earth seemed worth living for； and
that was to overtake this infernal fox。 I passed one of the horsemena
Hussar like myself。 There were only two in front of me now： the one in a
black coat； the other the blue artilleryman whom I had seen at the inn。
His grey whiskers streamed in the wind； but he rode magnificently。 For a
mile or more we kept in this order； and then； as we galloped up a steep
slope； my lighter weight brought me to the front。
I passed them both； and when I reached the crown I was riding level
with the little； hard…faced English huntsman。
In front of us were the dogs； and then； a hundred paces beyond them；
was a brown wisp of a thing； the fox itself； stretched to the uttermost。
The sight of him fired my blood。 〃Aha； we have you then； assassin！〃 I
cried； and shouted my encouragement to the huntsman。 I waved my hand
to show him that there was one upon whom he could rely。
And now there were only the dogs between me and my prey。 These
dogs； whose duty it is to point out the game； were now rather a hindrance
than a help to us； for it was hard to know how to pass them。 The
huntsman felt the difficulty as much as I； for he rode behind them； and
could make no progress toward the fox。 He was a swift rider； but
wanting in enterprise。 For my part； I felt that it would be unworthy of the
Hussars of Conflans if I could not overcome such a difficulty as this。
Was Etienne Gerard to be stopped by a herd of fox…dogs？
It was absurd。 I gave a shout and spurred my horse。
〃Hold hard； sir！ Hold hard！〃 cried the huntsman。
He was uneasy for me； this good old man； but I reassured him by a
wave and a smile。 The dogs opened in front of me。 One or two may
have been hurt； but what would you h