22 THE IMAGE OF WAE 



place, the odds are the gate in it is no higher than 

 a sheep-hurdle, and unlocked to boot. The pace 

 remains good ; we have been running over forty 

 minutes, when — what is this ? 



"This" is — Great Woods, one of the drawbacks 

 to fox-hunting in the old country. Their extent is 

 numbered by thousands of acres, and when once you 

 get into them you may have to pound along for 

 hours in hock - deep rides to keep with the pack. 

 Neglect to do so, and you are sure to be slipped. 

 Confound it ! here we shall spend the rest of 

 the day. 



But what is that ? Tally-ho, forrard 1 It is ride 

 now, to see if the fast - sinking varmint will make 

 his point. How the pack strive ! He will ! He 

 won't ! Who-whoop ! and they roll him over under 

 the very boundary fence. Who - whoop ! Who- 

 whoop ! 



Well, they can't say we haven't shown them the 

 trick this time. But who is this who emerges from 

 the lane on the left ? The squire ! and the gov- 

 ernor ! Presently Will comes up to us. " Please, 

 captain, squire says would you like a brush to put 

 with yours from the cut - 'em - down countries ? " 

 And, having said, explodes. 



Never mind ; there is worse fun than a day 

 with the Old Pack. 



