The Major who didn't know the ground, tried it at an impracticable place, and brought his mare down.

But she fell at the right side, and he was quick enough in getting away from her, not to fall under her in the ditch.

Tony Tuppet, who knew every foot of that double ditch and bank, and every foot in the hedge above, kept well to the left and crept through a spot where one ditch ran into the other, intersecting of the fence.

Tony, like a knowing huntsman as he was, rode always for the finish and not for immediate glory.

Both Lord Rufford and Hampton, who in spite of their affected nonchalance were in truth rather riding against one another, took it all in a fly, choosing a lighter spot than that which the Major had encountered.