FOX-HOUNDS 107 



suggested by the writer that he had better wait 

 a few minutes and see what was to happen, as the 

 huntsman was properly making his cast forward, 

 after the pack had been held on by the side of the 

 road for some distance, and no touch of a scent. 

 At this time a couple and a half of old hounds 

 were seen cantering back, lashing their sterns on 

 the very line they had gone forward, and were 

 coming straight to the cover, occasionally turning 

 round to listen if the pack was running. When 

 at length they got nearly to where the whipper-in 

 and writer were, that is, close to the large wood, 

 he was in the act of smacking his whip and rating 

 them on, when the writer requested him to be quiet 

 and see the result, which was that, as soon as they 

 got back to the cover-side, they hit off the scent, 

 the fox having come back the line he went. On 

 which the whip held up his cap, gave a view- 

 halloo, and brought the pack back ; after which 

 the fox made the same point over a fine country 

 and was killed. But the cause of the fox heading 

 back was a waggon and horses, which the writer 

 could see up the road, but which the huntsman 

 was not aware of; and it must have been exactly 

 opposite the spot where the fox would otherwise 

 have crossed the road, at the time he got there, 

 and headed back. 



