14 The Tetcott Hunt CUeek. 



to follow, but to retire to that part of the plantation 

 which the hounds have drawn, and there to break- 

 fast. The parcel of food is not easily extracted 

 from my pocket — I had seized on an old newspaper 

 in my hurry, and had wrapped it loosely round a 

 junk of meat and bread. Get it out at last, and 

 place it with my clasp knife in front of me on the 

 saddle, and then proceed to arrange my tie, which 

 is sadly aggravating me. At this moment the hounds 

 find, horse plunges, hat, having no string, comes off, 

 and together with breakfast and knife rolls into the 

 gutter. I jump off to recover these things, when, lo ! 

 the whole ''field" come sweeping by me. Whilst 

 bareheaded, with waistcoat unbuttoned, ends of 

 necktie hanging loose, I am, at one and the same 

 time, struggling with my horse and endeavouring to 

 collect the scattered fragments of my breakfast. 

 Fox takes another turn in covert, and back come 

 the equestrians, whilst I am now endeavouring to 

 press out and restore to some shape my unfortunate 

 hat, which has been trampled on by my horse. I clap 

 on hat, roll up a portion of the bread and meat, 

 button up waistcoat, mount, and make for the top of 

 covert, where I arrive just as the hounds are getting 

 away with their fox at this very point. The exit 

 from the plantation has bars across it. I get off to 

 take down the top one, and am about to lead over, 

 when horse takes the initiative, jumps before I am 



