34 IRings ot tbe Ibimttng^jftel^ 



' Old Tinker was the name of a fox with more than 

 the usual cunning of his species, that had often proved 

 more than a match for the hounds ; and one morning 

 the squire, having made up his mind for a run, repaired 

 to Tickwood, where this fox was put up. On hearing 

 the hounds in full cry the squire vowed he would " Follow 

 the devil this time to hell's doors, but he would catch 

 him." Reynard went off in the direction of the Clee 

 Hills ; but took a turn, and made for Thatcher's 

 Coppice ; from there to the Titterstone Hill, and then 

 back to Tickwood, where the hounds again ousted him, 

 and over the same ground again. On arriving at the 

 Brown Clee Hills the huntsman's horse was so blown 

 that he took Moody's and sent Tom with his own to 

 the nearest inn to get spiced ale and a feed. By this 

 time the fox was on his way back, and the horse on 

 which Tom was seated no sooner heard the horn sound- 

 ing than he dashed away and joined in the chase. 



' Ten couples of fresh hounds were now set loose at 

 the kennels in Willey Hollow, and these again turned 

 the fox in the direction of Aldenham ; but all besides 

 Moody were now far behind, and his horse fell dead 

 beneath him. The hounds, too, had had enough ; they 

 refused to go further, and Old Tinker once more beat 

 his pursuers, but only to die in a drain on the Aldenham 

 estate, where he was found a week afterwards.' 



But let me turn now for a moment from Squire 

 Forester to his celebrated whipper-in, Tom Moody. 

 Tom was apprenticed to a maltster named Adams when 

 he was fortunate enough to attract the attention of the 

 fox-hunting squire. The lad had been sent by his 

 master one day to deliver malt at Willey Hall, and Mr 

 Forester watched him with keen delight sending his 



