224 FOX-HUNTING TYPES 



will reach in a minute leads round the top of the 

 wood, and then runs through the bottom. Oh, to be 

 there and view the fox across ! Here we are now, 

 with the arching trees overhead — and how calm and 

 still all nature seems down in these sylvan depths 

 after the " delight of battle on the ringing plains " ! 

 But hark ! " Through bramble and brake the echoes 

 awake ; " they are hard at him still, and coming this 

 way ! Let us press close up to the trees on the left. 

 Ah ! there he goes across the road and into the low 

 side of the wood. With drooping brush and tucked- 

 up belly he steals across at a foot's pace. Have you 

 forgotten how to holloa ? By Diana, no ! That was 

 a good one, and has told. Listen to the horn, and 

 the Master's cheers. Here come the pack, and the 

 Master crashing down through the underwood with 

 them. " Where did he cross ? " No need to reply ; 

 the hounds rapturously tell him that. " Ls he long 

 gone?" "Only just in front of them." "Forrard! 

 f orrard ! " and the trees close after our jovial hunts- 

 man. No need to follow him ; stick to the road, 

 and gallop down through the wood, taking the first 

 turn to the right when we come to the cross. There 

 they go now, across the little valley below the wood, 

 but their heads are up in the bottom, and, though 

 hounds swing round, they come back puzzled. What 

 can have happened? Ah, see that evil-looking collie 

 coming down the road towards us with his tongue 

 hanging out and his sides heaving. No doubt he has 

 coursed our fox, and it would be well to make the 

 M.F.H. aware of it. Our information decides his 

 cast, and in five minutes they are running harder 



