Read Online The Flood-Tide by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles - Free Book Online

She'll ride to the first covert, follow at the back of the field until we come to the first jump, and then call for a groom to take her home.' It was so perfect a picture that Jemima could only smile. 'And look at the stupid Horatio person,' Charlotte went on. 'His horse is nearly knocked up already, and we haven't even moved off. He doesn't deserve to have a horse at all. Look at it frothing! Mother, why do we have to have people like that at our hunt?’
    It was not a question, as Jemima knew quite well. 'You and William had better try and stay at the front,' she said instead of answering. 'There are some strange horses out today, and I'm afraid you may be kicked. And stay together, won't you?'
    ‘Yes, Mother, I'll take care of William,' Charlotte said, answering the thought rather than the words.
    It was a wonderful hunt, with one of the longest gallops Jemima remembered, so long indeed that all but the best horses got left well behind. Jemima found herself at the front, for there were few horses who could outrun Poppy over her own country, with no one but the huntsmen in front of her and only a handful of hard riders nearby. A few yards to her left was Lord Meldon on his wicked-looking chestnut, and as she turned her head, he gave her a challenging smile and tried to urge an extra ounce of speed from his mount. Jemima smiled back, glad to see him so cheerful. Angus was not far behind, more from the determination of his bay to keep up than any desire of his own, and a little way behind them were Thomas, Flora and Allen, comfortably together. Half a dozen well mounted neighbours made up the rest of their company, and the rest of the field was out of sight.
    Thus Jemima was in at the kill, but missed all the drama. Horatio's mount, brought to a pitch of near-hysteria before the first covert, took off like a catapult shot as soon as the first run started. Charlotte and William had at first thought this all of a piece with his previous behaviour, but when the animal passed them with its head up, its eyes white, and froth spraying from its rigid jaw, they realized that young Horatio was out of control. They were coming up to a stout but jumpable hedge. The horse swerved violently sideways and galloped off into the wood, and under Charlotte's leadership they swung away in pursuit.
    A wild pursuit it was too, through a tangled wood at full-pelt, but where the tall horse could go, their shorter ponies could follow. The path led to a thick thorn hedge, its top smashed through in a welter of broken twigs. Charlotte in the lead pressed her pony on; it jumped boldly. On the other side the hireling lay thrashing, tangled in its reins, with the boy half under it, caught by his foot in the stirrup. All this Charlotte saw in mid-air; she wrenched at the reins and her pony twisted its body sideways in a desperate attempt to avoid the fallen horse. They landed awkwardly, her pony fell, and she was thrown clear.
    William was in time to avoid the jump, hearing the cries from the other side. A little further along was a lower place in the hedge, and he jumped there in safety, to find that Charlotte, unperturbed by her fall, had flung herself onto the hireling's head and was struggling to free its feet from the reins.
    ‘William, William, come and hold a leg,' she panted.
    By the time help arrived, they had got the hireling to its feet, stiff and trembling, and freed young Horatio who, though very shocked and bruised, was not seriously hurt by his escapade. It was only then that Charlotte saw her pony, standing beside William's, holding off the ground a foreleg that dangled horribly and uselessly.
    The Honourable Horatio Morland was whisked off to be examined by the best surgeon in York, while plain Miss Charlotte Morland was taken to her home to be bathed, annointed, and put to bed by Alison. While everyone was dressing, a message came from Shawes to say that Horatio was not considered to be in danger, and that the ball would therefore take