To their manifest disgust I stayed with the people on the road.
Shortly we came to a tavern and I went in and nerved myself with a stiff drink, also I had a bottle filled with liquid courage, which I took along with me.

Just by way of making a second fiasco impossible I took three more drinks while I was in the bar, then I galloped away and soon overtook the hunters.
The first trail of the hounds had proved false.

Two miles further on they struck a true trail and away they went at full cry.

I had now got used to the saddle and the gait of my horse.

I also had prepared myself in the tavern for any course of action that might offer.
The M.F.H.began taking stone walls and hedges and I took every one that he did.