36 WARWICK WOODLANDS. 



This was soon done, and going out upon the stoop, a scene- 

 it is true, widely different from the kennel door at Melton, or 

 the covert side at Billesdon Coplow, yet riot by any means de- 

 void of interest or animation presented itself to my eyes. 

 About six couple of large heavy hounds, with deep and pendant 

 ears, heavy well-feathered sterns, broad chests, and muscular 

 strong limbs, were gathered round their feeder, the renowned 

 Jem Lyn ; on whom it may not be impertinent to waste a word 

 or two, before proceeding to the mountain, which, as I learned, 

 to my no little wonder, was destined to be our hunting ground. 



Picture to yourself, then, gentle reader, a small but actively 

 formed man, with a face of most unusual and portentous ugli- 

 ness, an uncouth grin doing the part of a smile ; a pair of eyes 

 so small that they would have been invisible, but for the ser- 

 pent-like vivacity and brightness with which they sparkled from 

 their deep sockets, and a profusion of long hair, coal-black, but 

 lank and uncurled as an Indian's, combed smoothly down with 

 a degree of care entirely out of keeping with the other details, 

 whether of dress or countenance, on either cheek. Above these 

 sleek and cherished tresses he wore a thing which might have 

 passed for either cap or castor, at the wearer's pleasure ; for it 

 was wholly destitute of brim except for a space some three or 

 four inches wide over the eyebrows ; and the crown had been so 

 pertinaciously and completely beaten in, that the sides sloped 

 inward at the top, as if to personate a bishop's mitre ; a fishing 

 line was wound about this graceful and, if its appearance belied 

 it not most foully, odoriferous head-dress ; and into the fishing 

 line was stuck the bowl and some two inches of the shank of a 

 well-sooted pipe. An old red handkerchief was twisted rope- 

 wise about his lean and scraggy neck, but it by no means sufficed 

 to hide the scar of what had evidently been a most appalling 

 gash, extending right across his throat, almost from ear to ear, 

 the great cicatrix clearly visible like a white line through the 

 thick stubble of some ten days' standing that graced his chin 

 and neck. 



An old green coat, the skirts of which had long since been 

 docked by the encroachment of thorn-bushes and cat-briers, 

 with the mouth-piece of a powder-horn peeping from its breast 

 pocket, and a full shot-belt crossing his right shoulder ; a pair 

 of fustian trowsers, patched at the knees with corduroy, and 

 heavy cowhide boots completed his attire. This, as it seemed, 

 was to be our huntsman ; and sooth to say, although he did 



