322 WHICH IS THE BEST 



Diana. Repairing damages while crossing the next 

 field at speed, I see that there are now but five men 

 and two ladies in the field with hounds, which after 

 crossing one more high fence, swing sharp to the 

 right. The country after that is easy, and how the 

 bitches do fly across it ! They dart from field to field, 

 for our fox has his point in view, and is making it 

 unhindered by enemies. What a lucky evening ! 

 There are no dogs about ; we pass near no houses ; 

 and our fox, generally running by the side of a fence, 

 avoids the cattle in the fine grass fields across which 

 we are making such pleasant progress. Our Master's 

 cheers of encouragement have ceased ; the thing is 

 getting serious. I heard him say, " Come up, you 

 brute ! " at that last fence, and that good horse 

 certainly leaves a leg behind him at the next one. 

 We pass close by the walls of an old ivy-covered 

 tower, one of Ireland's ruined castles, situated on a 

 green knoll, and some wheeling sheep direct my eyes 

 to a speck smoothly ascending the opposite slope. 

 " Tally-ho ! " I whisper to the M.F.H., for the going 

 is good on the short, 'crisp turf, and I can ride along- 

 side him. " Where ? Ah ! I have him now, and we 

 ought to catch him," he replies. 



Five minutes later, when hounds seem to be 

 growing very dim and small, we throw open a gate 

 and find ourselves at the junction of four roads, with 

 the pack nosing about in all directions, busy but 

 puzzled. Our huntsman holds his hand up. A check 

 at last. Out comes my watch — thirty-two minutes 

 up to this ; and what a fog goes up from the panting 

 horses, though now there are only five here present ! 



