Wise Saws 163 



backs. " Have at him there again^ my good hounds ; 

 a fox for a hundred ! " reiterates the Squire ; putting 

 his finger in his ear, and uttering a scream which, 

 not being set to music, we cannot give here. Jack 

 Stevens (the first whipper-in) looks at his watch. At 

 this moment two or three of the fast ones are seen 

 creeping gently on towards a point at which they 

 think it probable he may break. " Hold hard, there," 

 says a sportsman ; but he might as well speak to the 

 winds. " Stand still, gentlemen ! pray stand still," 

 exclaims the huntsman ; he might as well say so to 

 the sun. During the time we have been speaking 

 of, all the field have been awake — gloves put on — 

 cigars thrown away — the bridle-reins gathered well 

 up into the hand, and hats pushed down upon the 

 brow. At this interesting period, a Snob,^ just 

 arrived from a very rural country, and unknown to 

 any one, but determined to witness the start, gets 

 into a conspicuous situation : ^' Come away, Sir ! " 

 holloas the master. " What mischief are you doing 

 there ? Do you think you can catch the fox ? " 

 A breathless silence ensues. At length a whimper 

 is heard in the cover — like the voice of a dog in a 

 dream ; it is Flourisher, a noted finder, and the 

 Squire cheers him to the echo. In an instant a 

 hound challenges — and another — and another. 'Tis 

 enough. " Tally-ho ! " cries a countryman in a tree. 

 " He's gone," exclaims Lord Alvanley. 



Nhnrod {C. J. Apperley). 



The Peerless Sport ^c^ ^:> ^o 



HUNTING is the most democratic of all sports, 

 and brings together good fellows of all classes. 

 The penniless younger son may take a better place 



^ Stranger. 



