284 The Post and the Paddock. 



keen ardour and genuine pluck which each had always 

 possessed : each recognising and pointing to parti- 

 cular hounds then ahead, and running for their fox as 

 his ; each cheering on his own favourites. ' Look at 

 my Watchman and Anxious/ exclaims Mr. Musters. 

 * Ah ! but, Squire/ answers Day, ' see our old Lounger 

 and Purity ; Purity means to have at him first, and 

 will/ The finish soon takes place. Day jumped off 

 his horse quickly, and was as speedily over the fence 

 and into the plantation, the squire close after him. 

 Day seizing reynard, ejaculated, ' It's my fox, Squire. 

 I'll swear to it among a million, I will / and he strutted 

 along, holding him in his hand, and crowing like a 

 bantam-cock of the purest breed, the Squire at his 

 side looking like a fine old game cock that had won 

 his hundred battles, and could afford the other's 

 triumph. He denied, but Day persisted that it was 

 his run fox, and there was no further wrangling 

 except by the hounds in eating him. Then occurred 

 another pleasing scene. The Squire and Day draw- 

 ing by alternate calls their respective hounds, which 

 was speedily done, all jealous feelings subsided, and 

 civil greetings were exchanged on departing." 



An anecdote is told in illustration of Jack-a- 

 Lantern's gentleness. When Mr. Lindow had broken 

 his collar-bone, and was quite unable to hold The 

 Clipper, even with the "Clipper bit," Mr. Smith 

 changed horses with him for the day. The meet was 

 at Scoling's Gorse, near Melton, which has long since 

 fallen under the plough. Mr. Lindow rode Jack with 

 one arm in a sling, and the Clipper was brought out 

 with bit-cheeks some eight inches long, and the huge 

 attendant curb-chain. Every one thought Mr. Smith 

 bewitched because he would not mount till the curb- 

 chain was taken off ; and after pledging themselves 

 that he would never be able to pull him up till he 

 reached the sea-coast, they heard early in the after- 

 noon that "Mr. Smith had run away with The 



