14 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



side for a few seconds ; " you handed them cheerily over the 

 drive ; now, good-bye, and beware of those helter-skelter fellows 

 behind." 



The hounds had now gained the furze hills, where a large 

 patch of thick gorse gave the fox an opportunity of recovering 

 second wind, the nature of the covert preventing his foes press- 

 ing him so closely as in the more open copse wood ; and here 

 they remained dodging about until the whole field, consisting of 

 a hundred and fifty horsemen, or thereabouts, joined them. 



"Well, Burnett," exclaimed Mr. Beauchamp, "was that fast 

 enough for you 1 " 



" Can't say exactly, my friend, as a man is not expected to 

 ride through a hundred acres of underwood as he would over a 

 stubble field ; but this patch of gorse is more to my taste, from 

 which they won't give me the slip quite so easily. By gad, 

 this puts one in mind of Leicestershire — fine open pastures all 

 around — hounds cannot run away from us here." 



" Don't make too sure of that, Burnett," replied Mr. Beau- 

 champ ; " you will find it stiff work across that vale, with 

 ditches deep enough to hold a horse, with only his head above 

 water ; but look, Charley's cap is held up, the fox is away, and 

 now comes the tug of war." In a second, Will's scream brought 

 the pack all round him, and settling down to the scent, they 

 flashed away like lightning. 



" Now, Master Will," cried Sir Francis, taking his place by 

 his side, " I mean to keep you company, and see if your para- 

 gons can run away from me." 



" Come on then, Sir Francis, here's something to begin with," 

 as a stiff ox fence, about six feet high, stood across the com- 

 mon, right before them, over which the hounds had just dashed. 

 Sir Francis put on the steam, going at the leap full speed, which 

 prevented his horse measuring his distance, and his stride 

 bringing him too near the fence for a good, take off, he swerved 

 suddenly aside, and threw his rider. William Beauchamp, by 

 pulling up a little, enabled his horse to take it in his own style, 

 and clearing it, he rode quickly away on the other side. As 

 Sir Francis fell, two stout, hard-riding young farmers came 

 down together at the fence, which being broken by their 

 weight, made a gap for others to pass easily over ; and the 

 baronet never having quitted his hold of the reins, was soon in 

 his saddle again, going fast and furiously, to make up for lost 

 time. Charley remarked to his master, "The Leicestershire 

 baronet won't ride over them to-day, sir, I think." 



