538 MODERf^ FARRIER. 



Th' unerring hounds 



With peals of echoing vengeance close pursue." 



Somerville. 



Huntsman ! at fault at last ? How far did you 

 bring the scent ? — Have the hounds made their 

 own cast ? — Now make yours. You see that sheep- 

 dog has been coursing the fox ; — get forward with 

 your hounds, and make a wide cast. 



' Hark ! that halloo is indeed a lucky one. — If we 

 can hold him on, we may yet recover him ; for a fox, 

 so much distressed,' must stop at last. We now shall 

 see if they will hunt, as well as run ; for there is but 

 little scent, and the impending cloud still makes 

 that little less. How they enjoy the scent ; see 

 how busy they all are ; and how each in his turn 

 prevails. 



' Huntsman ! be quiet ! While the scent was 

 good, you pressed on your hounds ; it was well 

 done. Your hounds were afterwards at fault ; — you 

 made your cast with judgment, and lost no time. 

 You now nuist let them hunt ; — with such a cold 

 scent as this, you can do no good. — They must do 

 it all themselves, — Lift them now, and not a hound 

 will stop again. — Ha ! a high road, at such a time as 

 this, when the tenderest-nosed hound can hardly 

 own the scent ! — Another fault ! That man at work 

 then has headed back the fox. Huntsman ! cast not 

 your hounds now, you see they haA^e over-run the 

 scent ; have a little patience, and let them, for once, 

 try back. 



' We must now give them time ; — see where they 

 bend towards yonder furze brake ; I wish he may 

 have stopped there. Mind that old hound, how he 

 dashes o'er the furze ; I think he winds him : — now 

 for a fresh entapis : — Hark ! they halloo : — Aye, 

 there he goes. 



' It is near over with him; had the hounds caught 

 view, he must have died. He will hardly reach the 

 cover ; — see how they gain upon him at every 



