AS IHE CROW FLIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2652, 11 January 1905, Page 81

AS IHE CROW FLIES.

By P. DA. C. De I/Isle.

[All Rights Reserved.]

(For the Witness).

Then hey to boot and horse, my lad, and o'er

the world away ! Young blood will have its ccmrse, lact, and every dog his day!

A bright, breezy morning ushered in the last meet of the Rangitikei hounds — a morning so cool and refreshingly clear that even the most indifferent limiting man felt inclined "to turn out and have a good cut in for the last time this season. Consequently, there was a large muster, and all along the road to Sandon hacks of every description, hunters of every calibre, and vehicles of every denomination were hurrying helter-skelter to the trysting place. A Sandon the hounds were already assembled, and the M.F.H., wisely declining to stay for stragglers, did not wait long before getting them away. All the first-flight ers were there, with several ladies who looked like business. John Murray, the first man with the Hawke's Bay Hounds ; Rowland More Dick Shannon, Sir Walter James, and Wynstanley Beckford had mustered with the cracks of the Rangitikei Hounds. They were eagerly looking forward to the downfall of John Murray, who had made a snob of himself at the Feilding Club the night before by insulting a visitor from Taranaki — a young sheep farmer named Digby Cleeveland, who was going down to ride in the Grand National Steeplechase at Christchurch during the C.J.C. winter meeting.

Murray had wagered a hundred pounds that he would beat the Taranaki man in a run across country, and the visitor had accepted the wagei\ Every man present agreed in saying that Murray had behaved most caddishly, and they all sincerely hoped that he would lose his money. Pretty Rose Davenant was there, superbly mounted on her thoroughbred hunter Hero, and quite as impatient as the M.F.H. to be gone. Who did not know Rose Davenant, the beautiful "belle of Maoriland," as she was called by all New Zealand mankind ! She was the only daughter of Henry Davenant, the North Island wool king, a man who owned half a dozen stations. And here was pretty Rose, with only an old groom in attendance, waiting, like a second Diana, to be off with a dash among the first-flight ers.

.Just as the M.F.H. was about to give the signal a tall man, faultlessly attired in hunting costume, galloped up on a covert hack. Slipping quickly off the hack, in another minute he was firmly seated on the back of a big chestnut hunter, from whose back a groom had just pulled the clothing. "A near thing, by Jove !" he said. "Ah ! there they go, as I thought. Now to give that bumptious braggart a lesson he will long remember !" He lifted the chestnut into a long, sweeping stride, and was, soon sailing along with the leaders. "Who is the sport on the chestnut, Jackson?" asked the M.F.H. of his whip. "I do not recollect ever having see,n him out before." He had heard nothing of the club incident. "Don't know him, sir," replied the whip; "but I think he is the young gent who rides as an amateur in Taranaki. They was expecting him this morning." "What do you mean, Jackson?" queried his master. "It's common property, sir. Mr Murray and Sir Walter was ' gassing ' in the club at Feilding last night, and they said there was no hunting man in New Zealand who could follow 'em over the Eangitikei country. This gent up and says he thought there was. Mr Siurray thought "ed got a soft thing on, so 'c bets this gent a hundred that the gent can't beat him to-day. The gent from Taranaki took the wager, and I suppose they're going to settle it now."

"Stupid of Murray! But it will be interesting, for Fve laid them on lo the stiffest line of country in the hunt. He riStes like an old stager, Jackson. What a superb goer he's on?" "Oh, I know the 'oss, sir. That's the Wanganui steeplechaser Gone Away. If the gent can only make 'im willin', we'll never see his heels for dust later on!" answered the whip enthusiastically.

By this time the field had become considerably scattered. The objectionable ruck was toiling hopelessly in the rear, and coming to grief at every jump. Soon the country began to grow stiffer. Each paddock they _ raced over had a bigger fence, "with sometimes aa irrigation drain on the taking off or landing side. Rose Davenant, riding pluckily and de-

Jerminedly, soon picked out the big chestautand his resolute rider. "There's the right one to follow !" she muttered, as she quickly crossed from Sir Walter's line on to his. The leaders were rapidly drawing together. Sir Walter, Mr Murray, the M.F.H. and his whip were riding almost abreast of each other in the first flight. On the right alone, and picking a line straight as the crow flies, was the rider on Gone 'Away, with Hero three lengths in his ."wake. Behind Miss Davenant, on a powerful, weight-carrying hunter, thundered her groom, Vith half-a-dozen hunters of the jßangitikei pack in hot chase. After crossing a nasty, stone wall, over xrhich Sir Walter scrambled with difficulty, the M.F.H. turned in his saddle and cried warningly : "Look out for Hay's Creek— it's running s banker I" - j " Down a hill, two paddocks^ in front of them, they could see the dappled darlings go straight- in with a plunge and out again, on the other side, racing -away with the scent breast "high. Rose Davemant' looked -towards -John. Murray^ and saw him quicken his pace with the chest - nut. - - - "" . -,:----- - "Qh! Riding jealous .again, ,Mr_ Murray," she muttered.. "Well, 'if 'l'm any judge, of B" horseman, you : -will be considerably put■out beforeHdhg!" " , '-' She_ quickened her pace, and raced up alongside* the ' chestnut, casting a' shy,- " quick glance at his rider. Turning to see who was coming up h"e paught her eye, and the bright "blushes that "crimsoned her face immediately brought a smile to tis lips. "Pretty as a picture!" was Ms mental /"omment ; then quick as ligtitning he -thought "Can she be going to ride at that creek?" . - There was no mistake < about it, for, vexed at having, betrayed Herself by that tell-tale blush, Miss Rose shook' Hero up and raced away from them all, a clear six lengths in the lead. The- chestnut immediately quickened up too! A hundred -yards trom the :reek they ■were all racing. Gone Away was *a£ his test, and, shooting out clear from- the rest, lie joined Hero, and the two - charged the 'jump together. With a "lep" that would : 'have shone at Caulfield, they cleared it side by side, Gone Away landing with, a good six feet to spare. His rider patted iis neck approvingly,- -and cast an admiring glance at. ijpse Davenant as she ■galloged alongside. -•• /* \ /,_". > - The M.F.H, and" whip just' "scrambled ' , over, but Mr. jMurray's horse shied -on 'rising and crossed ' Sir Walter's, 'and they both went in-wdth"- a 'terrific splash. •- "The- 'girl rides pluckily, Jackson/ said the M.F.H. . '- „. . "Yes, sir, she!s\the gamiest young lady that ever xode, with^us. The gent "se.ems to relish the stiff jumping tooj' sir." "He does, indeed. I suppose he wins his Trager?" "I think so, sir. But there's Sir Walter tind Mr Murray at it again. They're riding 'ard' to catch- us." j-. - — "Ah !v! v well, they, must, give the palm to stranger, for there's Sir John Hay's homestead fence, and I suppose we_ will' check at that. The hounds meant to 'stop ns to-day." ''Better make for the lodge gates, sir," luggested the whip. r"How far are we from them, Jackson?" inquired the master. N "About two miles, sir," he- answered. "What a pity. But there's nothing else for it.- We shall- not see the hounds for some time yet! Go ahead as hard as. you can," and, turning slightly to the left, the M.F.H. galloped down a by-path. Rose Davenant, flushed' and excited /by the pace and the pleasure of leading the field, was racing away almost alongside of Go Away. She saw the homestead v f ence, two furlongs ahead, and looked inquiringly, 'towards her companion. Rising in his saddle, he examined ibhe fence carefully, frhe hounds were just boring through a iiole in the lower part of it.'~~\Be steadied the chestnut a little, and went straightahead^- Then looking round to her he said,:'., . „''... "Excuse N my rudeness^but I should- aoT\vise you to go' round to where the! -gates we." \ '*, "v. , ••'*■- • "Are- you going/to fide- at that fence?" she inquired,, • flushing. ( . • . "Why^ not?"- he-queried. "I think 'my ■ torse can do it ; and I wish to be in at the c^eath." • ' . " She said nothing, but pulled Hero back In his wake. All the field turned away towards the homestead" gates, and as they . from the by-path into the open^ they caw Digby Oleeveland riding at the home- - stead fence at a hard gallop,- and wilful', 2Rose Darenant following resolutely behind Slim. Gone Away saw the fence and (pricked up his taper ears. ' "Willing «»16J fellow, eh?" asked his riSer ia he gave him x his head. Three short, fjuick strides, and, with the bound of an antelope, Gone Away crashed over the top bar," knocking it to pieces with his hind •legs. In another second Rose Davenaut followed, and Hero, rising like a bird, flew jover the gap Gone Away had made. "Safely over, thank goodness!" said the M.F.H., and all turned arid raced for the Igates, talking excitedly of the tremendous leaps they had witnessed. Hot fifty yards from the fence the hounds Jailed, and Rose Davenant found herself felone with Digby Cleeyeland. With, a wellfrred bow, he rode up to her and said : "Allow me to congratulate you on your jßuperb riding and great courage. We are in at the death alone !" - In two minutes Rose Davenant was chatting away quite unconcernedly with Digby Cleeveland, his unmistakable good breeding getting her at once at her ease. ''Allow me to introduce myself," he said. ■■'I am Digby Cleeveland, overseer to Monut •Egmont Station, in the Taranaki province. ■I am on my way down to Christchurch. to ride Bludgeon in the Grand National Steeplechase next, week." v "And I am Rose Davenant^ papa's only '

child. He would be terribly vexed if he was to hear of my wild riding to-day !" "I'm not surprised at his being anxious about you. Had I known that you intended to follow me I should never have given you a lead over the last fence." "Well, you see, Mr Cleeveland, I was a wee bit jealoiis, and I made up my mind to beat you if^l could." He sighed as he thought how thoroughly she had beaten him — him, Dighy Cleeveland, who for years had been proof against all the charms of womankind. "If I have the pleasure of meeting Mr { Davenant I shall advise him not to let yoxi hunt, because you ride 'jealous' when you get in the first flight." "Oh, you must come and see papa.!" she exclaimed. "I shall be delighted, I'm^ire. Hullo ! here comes tha rest of the field. Rather rough or them to be beaten by a lady, eh?" And. he looked at her with a caressingly flattering smile. "Oh, no ! They are used to it." Rose laughed a silvery peal at her own sarcasm, j The first thing the M.F.H. did was to I Rose, and in the same breath j .scold her for her rashness. "." "You -always- were wilful, Miss Rose," he .said!, "I shall have to ask Davenant to. keep you at "home when we are out. Ij don't want any broken bones with onr ; Bounds." - j Turnings to Cleeveland ha> remarked: j "Youv - horse is an exceptionally good ; animal, sir. Have you had him long, may ' ask?" \ "About a week. I bought him in Wanganui. They told me "candidly that he had a vile temper, and, l "got him cheap. I always get on -with bad uns, and Gone Away has behaved 'like a thorough gentleman with me." i "He was one of our best steeplechasers, j Do you intend to race him?" I "I bought him on the off chance. I shall J try him up-country first. If his temper im- ■ proves I will bring him down ; if not I : must hack him. By the -way, don't forget to back -Bludgeon for the Grand National, j He will win easily." "Good-bye, sir. I hope we shall often have the pleasure of seeing you with us?" '. said the M.F.H. Digby Cleeveland glanced at Rose Davenant, and said: "I hope so." ' For the life of her the young lady could not help blushing furiously. That night at the Feilding Club both Sir Walter James and Mr "Murray apologised, when~ paying their wagers. Digby Cleeveland swears to this day. that' -he won the sweetest wife in ,the_ world by x riding "straight as the crow ! flies." „\ , j -i"v '— - — •