A FATAL LEAP.
Ulick heard him, and, turning round, saw the grey galloping at a great pace straight for the churchyard wall. He did not accept the challenge; it would have been madness to do so. He called at the top of his voice to Warren to stop.
"He'll never clear it! Pull up!" shouted Ulick, excitedly.
For answer, Warren merely looked in his direction, and smiled grimly.
"Come on!" he shouted again. "Are you afraid?"
Ulick was not afraid, but he had no desire to break his neck, and that was probably what Warren would do if the grey failed to top the wall. There was no chance of stopping him, and Ulick determined to see the result of the dare-devil leap.
"He's mad to attempt it!" he said. "The horse is a good one, but he'll never get over it. I would not risk it on Random for a fortune!"
There was no one else near; the four or five horsemen had skirted round the wall, and were riding hard after the hounds, who had by this time cleared the churchyard.
Ulick waited for Warren's rash leap, and his heart almost stopped beating in his intense anxiety to see him safely over.
The presentiment of the morning flashed across his mind, and he wondered if this was to be the result.