HUNTS WITH JOKROCKS 



Fear lent fresh impetus to our worthy friend, 

 and tightening his hold of Arterxerxes' head, who 

 now began tripping and stumbling, and flounder- 

 ing along in a most slovenly manner, Mr. Jorrocks 

 trotted on, and reaching Hookem-Snivey, saw by 

 the foot-people standing on the churchyard-wall, 

 that the hounds were * forrard ' ; he turned down a 

 lane to the left of the village stocks, in the direc- 

 tion the people were looking, and catching 

 Staunton-Snivey in the distance, set off for it as 

 hard as ever he could tear. A pretty clattering he 

 made down the stony road. 



Night now drew on apace, and heavy darkening 

 clouds proclaimed a fast approaching storm. At 

 Staunton-Snivey he learned that the hounds had 

 just passed the turnpike on to the Downs, with the 

 fox * dead beat close afore them ' ; and still unwill- 

 ing to give in, though every moment increased his 

 difficulties, he groped open a bridle-gate, and 

 entered upon the wide-extending Plain. The 

 wind had now risen, and swept with uncommon 

 keenness over the unprotected open. The drizz- 



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