290 SOME HUMOURS OF THE CHASE 



that could not have been heard about the same 

 distance. 



" Slip round quietly to the other side of the covert," 

 said the M.F.H. to him one day as we approached a 

 famous covert in the South Kilkenny country. "Slip 

 round quietly, and make no noise." " Yezzir," replied 

 the servant, cantering off with a reverberating " Come 

 up,'oss,"and commencing the throat-clearing operations 

 as he progressed along the covert-side. On arrival at 

 the corner he evidently found it occupied, for, despite 

 the distance, we plainly heard that raucous " whisper " 

 rattle off without the suspicion of a pause, " Now, little 

 boy, wot are you a-doin' off ere ? Don't you know 

 terrible big fox lives 'ere ? last little boy he ate was 

 twice as big as you." The fox was at home all right, 

 but it is hardly necessary to add that he did not break 

 from that quarter as we fondly hoped he would. 



The same functionary sharpened his wit on a couple 

 of peasants one day when a bad fox got to ground 

 after a short gallop. The M.F.H. determined to have 

 him out, and two country fellows with a terrier were 

 quickly on the scene. " Best wait for the kennel 

 terrier," said the whipper-in, looking with some con- 

 tempt at the local candidate for underground honours ; 

 but Mr. Langrishe, ever anxious for the country folk to 

 have a share of our sport, thought otherwise, and 

 encouraged the countrymen to get him out if they 

 could. The dog was duly taken between his master's 

 knees, " rustled up " and introduced into the earth, but 

 very quickly came back ; he was tried again and again, 

 but though he *' challenged " he could not be induced to 

 go to his fox. " Get a candle ! Best get a candle ! " said 



