THE REV. JOHN RUSSELL. 121 



brought their loaded guns, were full of beer, 

 and * eager for the fray.' And when they 

 discovered that I had disturbed their fox, as 

 they were pleased to designate him, their 

 language was anything but choice. 



" A strapping young fellow, one of the 

 principal farmers in the parish came up to me 

 and said, ' Who are you, sir, to come here and 

 spoil our sport ? ' 



"'You would have spoiled mine,' I replied, 

 * if vou could.' 



"'You have no business here,' he said 

 defiantly. 



"'As much as you have,' I replied; 'for the 

 owner has given me leave to hunt over this 

 estate, and I mean doing so, too, whenever I 

 please. So get a horse, come out with me, and 

 I'll show you some fine sport, if you'll only give 

 up shooting foxes.' 



" ' We'll shoot them whenever we can ; that 

 I'll promise you,' he said, in an angry tone. 



"At that moment one of the hounds began 

 to howl. I looked round, saw she was in pain, 

 and asked, in a threatening manner, ' Who 

 kicked that hound ? ' 



" No one spoke for half a minute, when a 

 little boy said, pointing to another, 'That boy 

 kicked her.' 



" ' Did he ? ' I exclaimed ; ' then 'tis lucky 

 for him that he is a little bov.' 



