406 Modern Dogs. 



different kinds of game, viz., foxes, badgers, wild 

 and other cats, fitchets, stoats, weasels, &c., &c. ; 

 and at Marbury Hall there were places where these 

 animals were kept and well fed and attended to 

 until they were wanted. 



" Early on the morning of the trials out comes 

 the Squire with his friends and retinue, and the sport 

 begins, the vermin being placed at the far end of 

 the receptacles prepared for them, such as troughs 

 made of wood, with curves, &c., in them, drainpipes 

 of different sizes, all laid underground, tubs, boxes, 

 and a heap of faggots, &c. When all was ready 

 the Squire would give the signal, and an old tried 

 veteran would be let go, a tribe of youngsters being 

 held round and about the entrance, to show the 

 youngsters ' how it should be done.' Up the old 

 tyke would go, and come back with his game most 

 likely, and you would not hear a sound. After this 

 the young ones were tried, either singly or some- 

 times a brace, the keepers encouraging them, 

 shouting, ( Run in, Bunser ! ' Buster, Varmint, 

 Tinker, Tancred, &c., &c. ; this, with the sharp 

 ring of the bark of the tykes waiting for their turn 

 to come, the yelping, &c., of those who had just 

 tasted blood and were getting punished, together 

 with the bottle and glass circulating freely, made 

 one's blood all a-fire. Some of the dogs came 



