62 O'er Crag and Torrent 



Old Inn, at o'clock," has been 



announced, so " a-hunting we will go." On 

 the appointed day, having donned knicker- 

 bockers and the most comfortable pair of old 

 boots we possess, and having got outside a 

 goodly portion of cold beef-steak pie and the 

 contents of a coffee-pot, we make a start for 

 the " rendezvous," and arriving punctually at 

 the time appointed, found ne'er a one. 

 The weather was keenly cold, and it was 

 useless to ape indifference, so we betook 

 ourselves to the cosy inn, there to await 

 developments ; and the wait was long. At 

 length we were roused from a pleasant 

 reverie by the untuneful sound of a horn, 

 unskilfully blown a quaver a semibreve 

 and a halt too many. ... A hideous, blood- 

 curdling yell followed, which sounded like 

 " Drop it, you brute ; leave it, Gay-boy ! " 

 then the crack of a whip, accompanied by the 

 yelp of a wretched animal, assailed our ears. 



