LORD MERVYN'S PRESERVES. 69 



who came trotting down the large drive, with the dead fox on 

 his saddle. " Now, Sir Francis," said the whipper-in, throwing 

 the carcass on the ground, " there's the bagman, with the mark 

 of the collar on his neck, and his brush full of oat chaff, and 

 if any hound touches him, I'm a liar." 



, Old Rambler walked up, and, cocking his leg against his 

 dead foe, turned sulkily away. Not a hound offered to touch 

 him, all leaving him as he lay. Sir Francis and Bob Conyers 

 dismounted to examine also, the former exclaiming — 



" You are quite right, Charley ; he is a bagman, and no 

 mistake ! " 



Lord Mervyn was furious, declaring he would discharge all 

 his keepers, if he could discover they had been concerned in the 

 business. 



" I think you ought to dismiss one, at least," replied Sir 

 Francis, " for serving us such a dirty trick. But now for find- 

 ing a wild fox — the day is slipping away." 



" I am at his lordship's commands, to draw what covers he 

 pleases," replied Beauchamp. 



" You can try where you like, Mr. Beauchamp ; all, every 

 hedgerow of which I am the owner." 



" Yery well, my lord ; it shall be done as you desire." 

 With which, they quitted Marston Wood. 



"I say, Charley," asked Bob Conyers, riding by his side, 

 " how did you manage to get hold of that gun 1 " 



" Easily enough, sir. I went to where the head-keeper was 

 standing in the other drive — just the place where foxes gene- 

 rally cross over — and getting off my horse, asked him to hold 

 him a minute, while I went into the high wood. There lay 

 the gun against that tree. ' Mr. Sharpum,' I said, ' my horse 

 don't like the smell of powder, and don't you speak or move, for 

 I think the fox is coming our way.' Sharpum fell into the trap 

 nicely, when, in a few seconds, I heard a bit of a stir among the 

 leaves, and, sure enough, the poor devil of a fox came trotting 

 down to where I was standing. Then, stepping quickly back to 

 Mr. Sharpum, with my finger on my lips to keep quiet, I seized 

 the gun, and, before he guessed what I was up to, knocked over 

 the bagman. l What do you mean by that ? ' growled out 

 Sharpum. ' You will soon know,' said I ; and taking hold of 

 my horse, picked up the fox and galloped away." 



" Cleverly done, by Jove, Charley ! You are up to a dodge 

 or two, as well as your namesake." 



All Lord Mervyn' s coverts, every hedgerow almost, were 



