fox hunting. 85 



"the hunt. 

 " 'Give him a start of fifteen minutes,' says 

 the master of the hunt. It was an impatient 

 time, and was spent in talking probabilities, 

 'horse,' and looking after the straps and saddles. 

 'Time's up ! mount ! mount !' and in less than a 

 minute all were in the saddle, the pack of hounds 

 slipped and dashing up the road with tails erect 

 and nose in air. and such a chorus of hoarse 

 baying and sharp yelps that must have tingled the 

 ears of the fox if he heard it. In a half minute 

 almost the whole party had separated, some going 

 one direction, some another, depending on judg- 

 ment as to the direction to be taken. 'The wind's 

 from the south, and it will be a short hunt,' says 

 a looker-on, 'for then it's always so.' The hounds 

 could be heard for a few minutes, and then the 

 sound was lost behind the hills. The two ladies 

 rode splendidly and followed the hounds, taking 

 fences, ditches, and everything with the nerve of 

 veterans. From the brow of the hill where the 

 spectators stood the fox was easily seen from the 

 time it was let out of the trap until the first 

 quarter of a mile had been run. As the hounds 

 struck this point there was a temporary hush; then 

 a deep chorus, and they rushed in a solid body 

 along the trail. In less than half a minute the 

 liorsemen and the two ladies could be seen follow- 



