THE REV. JOHN RUSSELL 225 



of it without a particle of help from Will or 

 myself. 



**A day or two afterwards," continues the 

 same informant, "we were jogging together to 

 a meet at Yard Down Gate," the pack following 

 leisurely along, some almost under the stirrup, 

 and a few at the tail of Russell's horse. He 

 was chatting merrily, as usual, but, at the same 

 time, his eye never ceased travelling from one 

 hound to another, as if he were studying the 

 condition and fitness of every hound in the 

 pack for the day's work before them. Suddenly 

 he stopped his horse, dismounted, and handing 

 the rein to me, said, ' Lavender's not quite 

 right ; hold my horse an instant while I look 

 her over.' 



"He then examined her eyes, and before I 

 could understand what he was about to do, 

 pulled a lancet from his pocket and bled her 

 on the spot. A man we met soon afterwards was 

 then sent back with her to Tordown. 



"Again, the meet being on this occasion at 

 the Mervin's Arms, Russell, on looking over 

 a young black-and-white hound called Waverley, 

 recently sent to him from a distance, discovered 

 him to be unbranded. 



"'This won't do,' he said, 'we shall pro- 

 bably run to-day from Whityfield to the deep 

 covers of Henstridge, above Berry-Narbor, and 

 if we loose that hound we shall never see him 



Q 



