108 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



a fox was found by the beagles, which sometimes happened, he would 

 instantly come to the heels of the huntsman's horse. Some years afterwards 

 I hunted fox only, and, though I parted with most of the others, I kept him. 

 He went out constantly with the pack ; and, as hares were scarce in the 

 country that I then hunted, he did no hurt : the moment a fox was found, he 

 came to the horse's heels. This continued / some time, till, catching view of 

 a fox that was sinking, he ran in with the rest, and was well blooded. He 

 from that time to the day of his death, was not only as steady a hound to fox 

 as ever I knew, but became also our very best finder. I bred some buck- 

 hounds from him, and they are remarkable for never changing from a 

 hunted deer. 



Your huntsman's weekly return is a very curious one : he is particu- 

 larly happy in the spelling. The following letter, which is hi the same style, 

 may make you laugh, and is, perhaps, no unsuitable return for yours. 



SIR. 



Honored * . . . I have been out with the hounds this day to ayer the 

 frost is very bad the hounds are all pure well at present and horses shepard 

 has had a misfortin with his mare she hung harself with the holter and throd 

 har self and broak har neck and frac tard skul so we was forsd to nock har 



In the head from your ever dutyful Humbel Sarvant 



**** 



Wednesday evening. 



1 The lines omitted were not upon the subject of hunting. 



