knotting and loosening of the thick muscles as, step by step, she tore her
way up the grassy slope. It was a terrible trial of muscle and wind, and
very few horses could have stood it. As she neared the top, her pace grew
slower and slower, and the exertion more and more severe. If she had given
in, she would have rolled to the bottom, but nothing was less in her
thoughts. Her master never spurred or urged her, except it may have been
by whispering in her ear, to which his mouth was near enough: he knew she
needed no excitement to that effort. At length the final heave of her
rump, as it came up to a level with her withers, told the breathless
spectators that the attempt was a success, when a loud "Hurrah for the
doctor and his mare!" burst from their lips. The doctor, however, only
waved his hand in acknowledgment, for he had all to do yet. Fortunately
there was space enough between the edge and the fence on that side to
allow of his giving his mare a quarter of a circle of a gallop before
bringing her up to the rail, else in her fatigue she might have failed to
top it. Over she went and away, with her tail streaming out behind her, as
if she had done nothing worth thinking about, once it was done. One more
cheer for the doctor--but no one dared to follow him. They scattered in
different directions to find a less perilous crossing. I stuck by my
leader.

"By Jove! Cathcart," said Lord Irksham, as they parted, "that doctor of
yours is a hero. He ought to have been bred a soldier."

"He's better employed, my lord," bawled the old colonel; for they were now
a good many yards asunder, making for different points in the hedge. From
this answer, I hoped well for the doctor. At all events, the colonel
admired his manliness more than ever, and that was a great thing. For me,
I could hardly keep down the expression of an excitement which I did not
wish to show. It was a great relief to me when the _hurrah!_ arose, and I