A Teaser with the Tedworth, 233 



which was remarkable. The Belvoir, for bloom and 

 beauty, has always been my motto, but not a jot 

 behind them were the Tedworth, as seen on that day. 

 Following the usual hospitable course adopted at 

 most meets of hounds, servants were in waiting to 

 offer wine, cherry brandy, cura9oa, or ale, to all comers. 

 Time being up. Lord Algernon St. Maur, the acting 

 master, gave the word ; and we moved on to draw 

 a cover in the rear of the house. Then a slapping 

 chesnut horse. Student, was brought up for me, and 

 I found myself careering along on a spirited and 

 clever hunter, well up to my heavy weight, with 

 capital action, aiid as fresh as paint, though at the 

 same time temperate and well-mannered. 



Having formed an opinion of my steed, I was 

 quite satisfied that if I did not shirk, I should never 

 be out of the hunt, and went on my way rejoicing. 

 " Halloo in there ! " cries Fricker, and the eager 

 hounds spread themselves over the cover, which, 

 however, they drew blank. Then we proceed to 

 draw some patches of gorse on the hill side of an 

 extensive range of common, and it was not very long 

 before a view-halloo proclaimed the fact that Rey- 

 nard was at home, but apparently not inclined to 

 receive company, as, after dodging about amongst 

 the gorse for five or ten minutes, he took to the 

 open, and went away at a rattling pace, making for 

 a plantation near at hand, but the scent being very 

 indifferent, we lost him, only running him up to this 

 cover after a short gallop. When leaving the grass 

 and going over the ploughed land, the rottenness of 

 the ground after the long frost soon told a tale, and 

 there would have been plenty of sighing and sob- 



Q 



