228 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



on horseback, his servant, with a portmanteau, follow- 

 ing him. He no sooner saw the hounds, than he 

 rode up to me with the greatest eagerness. "Sir," 

 said he, " are you after a fox ? " When I told him 

 that we were, he immediately stuck spurs to his 

 horse, took a monstrous leap, and never quitted us 

 any more till the fox was killed. I suppose, had 

 I said that we were after a hare, my gentleman would 

 have pursued his journey. 



