92 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



one they had landed on its brink. Or at the most it only 

 caught his eye as one of the many puddles flooding the 

 meadows — till, with a wild bound the mare landed him, or 

 rather soused him, into the deep muddy water. The splasb 

 came loud and suddenly; the black water went up to heaven — 

 and all was for a moment still. Then up rose a horse's head — 

 but nothing for some seconds to show that a rider, too, was 

 immersed. Up it came at last, like a Jack-in-the-Box — or like 

 an apple in a bucket at a school feast. Nor hat nor cap betrayed 

 its identity — but who shall make fun of that honest face, albeit 

 it wore a very comic aspect then ? Anxiety for his safety 

 checked every inclination to laugh at the time. Why go back 

 to it now ? A true good servant was not drowned ; but was 

 soon in the saddle again. 



DEEPER AND DEEPER. 



The best day during the next week was Friday, February 2nd. 

 We have seen no better scenting day this season ; and if the 

 Quorn hounds failed to kill a fox, it was no fault of theirs — for 

 they ran as if in view nearly all day. Their first fox has to- 

 thank the development of Melton into a great railway centre 

 for his escape ; for he beat them at the junction-point of four 

 different lines of rail, and then only because the river Wreake 

 also stepped in to help him. After this they struck off a fox on 

 the move, and bundled him round the country till one and then 

 another substitute took up the running. Thus they went 

 furiously for about an hour and a half — the last five-and- 

 twenty minutes bringing a beaten fox, and many very beaten 

 horses, to the main earth at Melton Spinney, in the Duke's 

 country. It is curious how it falls to the lot of certain localities, 

 to be trodden for a while almost day by day — till the tide 

 moves elsewhere and another district comes in for its turn. 

 For the last week Old Hills and Wartnaby have been the- 

 rallying points for both Quorn and Belvoir ; and every field and 



