158 FOX-HUNTING 



flash of bright red fur, and a white tag dis- 

 appears in the thicket beyond. A cheer from 

 your lips and a blast on the horn brings all the 

 old hounds to the spot. The melody soon in- 

 creases in volume, and in a few minutes every 

 hound seems to be throwing his tongue. Some 

 of the young ones have already joined in, and 

 the rest are following on with the excitement of 

 the cry. Keep quiet now, and don't halloa if 

 you see the fox, whilst they are running well. 

 Listen ! there are two or three scents, the tail 

 hounds have crossed the line of other foxes, but 

 the majority of the old hounds still stick to their 

 first-love, and are bustling him round the covert 

 with an echoing crash of music. It must be the 

 dog-fox, and he will very soon have to leave, 

 but at present he thinks the pack are too near 

 to make it safe. There is a sudden lull — now 

 he is away, and you hear the hoof-beats of the 

 whip's horse as he gallops down ready to stop 

 hounds should they come out. Your orders were 

 to stop hounds and let all foxes go. Now blow 

 your horn and take this lot of hounds to where 

 the others are running at the further side of the 

 covert, but if they can hear the cry, they will 



