Charlie Wildoats. 69 



rendezvous except his groom. *' They've drawn Tilbury 

 Dean blank, Squire Greenfield's man just told me," that 

 worthy informs him as he gets off the now smoking hack ; 

 '' and they've trotted horf to Willoughby Wood, where 

 they're sure to find, they say, and you'll catch 'em up, sir, 

 if you go through the gate yonder, and along by Farmer 

 Joskin's." So, taking the servant's advice, Charlie, hastily 

 mounting, sends his horse along best pace ; through old Jos- 

 kin's strawyard, into his meadow beyond, over a stile into a 

 lane, over the fence the other side, and in due time makes 

 his appearance in the principal ride of Willoughby Wood, 

 now filled by the members of the hunt. " What a lazy 

 beggar it is ! " says Tom Larkington. " I wish we had 

 found and got away without you," adds he. '' Knew you 

 wouldn't find at the Dene," returns Charlie, ^' so took it 

 out in sleep, you old muff." Lord Daisyfield and his 

 huntsman alike look upon our dandified friend with dis- 

 trust. You might just as well holloa '' hold hard " to a 

 brick wall as to Charlie, and woe betide the hounds when 

 he is close to their sterns, for he is extremely likely to be 

 on the top of some of them if they don't look sharp and get 

 out of his way. Every hunt in England knows him and 

 his little ways. How old Squire Rasper, who hunts the 

 Rummagemshire country, loves him ! Our friend made a 

 descent on that country last year, and, finding the company 

 pleasant and the champagne good at the principal inn, 

 stayed there for five weeks. He was as fit as a buck-rat up 

 a sink all the time, as he elegantly expressed it, and seemed 

 to take a glory in riding at all the biggest fences he could 

 pick out, no matter whether hounds were running or not. 

 Of course he rode over a few of old Mealymouth's — as he 

 irreverently called the Squire — hounds. At last one 



