170 FOX-HOUKD, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



or distinction, no striving for imaginary honours, no incitement 

 to avert impression that to other dogs belongs the present day, 

 and that yours must be numbered with the past. So a cracker 

 they rode down the two great pastures ; gaily leaped an insigni- 

 ficant gap in the dividing hedge ; and lustily galloped for the 

 well-known bridge — over a brook that has witnessed as much 

 discomfiture as ever a stream in the Midlands. 



In the natural order of things, a first whip is often called 

 upon to act as pilot — when a huntsman is }^et scarcely clear of 

 covert, and hounds are running rather farther in front of their 

 field than they should be (this, remember, being merely an. 

 occurrence peculiar to October, and at all other times appa- 

 rently impossible save through the intervention of river, wire, 

 or similar unforeseen check upon the madding crowd). So now 

 the redoubtable Bill (this name will do as well as any other) is 

 slipping ahead on a lengthy bay that has all the conditional 

 advantages of six weeks' cub-hunting ; and that possibly owes 

 his present chance to the possession of a wilful disposition, 

 suggesting the advisability of Bill's determined manipulation 

 for a period previous to full-dress appearance in public. Any- 

 how, Bill does his duty (as indeed he meets all occasions and 

 all demands requiring instinct, skill, or courage) with the 

 readiest facility ; guides a grateful group as directly to gate or 

 gap as if his way were placarded, and hounds on a guiding 

 herring. Deftly he parts the leafy covering that clouds the 

 broad hole in a dense bullfinch ; with a sharp little crack, like 

 a mere passing snap of the fingers, he flings aside the single rail 

 that would block the way through an uncompromising stake- 

 and-bound ; and with a wriggle and scuffle he demonstrates 

 how easily a horse may be squeezed round a tree where foot- 

 people have trod down the thorn. Content to be led, only too 

 glad to follow, the bruisers string on — while faces grow rapidly 

 red, fat horses sob early, and the pack stride on in advance, over 

 rich pasture and lengthy aftermath. No story need 1 make — 

 for a fifteen minutes' spin is but a flash in the pan, of the sport- 

 giving pack I speak of — and before whom many an old fox will 



