THE CHACE. 
days, would not have stopped such men as these, so long 
as life remained in them. 
Only those who have witnessed it can know in what 
an extraordinary manner hounds that are left behind in 
a cover make their way through a crowd, and get up to 
the leading ones of the pack, which have been fortunate 
in getting away with their fox. It is true, they possess 
the speed of a race-horse ; still nothing short of their 
high mettle could induce them to thread their way 
through a body of horsemen going the best pace, with 
the prospect of being ridden over and maimed at every 
stride they take. But, as Beckford observes, " 'Tis the 
dash of the fox-hound which distinguishes him." A 
turn, however, in their favour, or a momentary loss of 
scent in the few hounds that have shot ahead an 
occurrence to be looked for on such occasions joins 
head and tail together, and the scent being good, every 
hound settles to his fox ; the pace gradually improves ; 
vires acquirit eundo ; a terrible burst is the result ! 
At the end of nineteen minutes the hounds come to 
a fault, and for a moment the fox has a chance, in fact, 
they have been pressed upon by the horses, and have 
rather over-run the scent. "What a pity !" says one. 
"What a shame !" cries another; alluding, perhaps, to 
a young one, who would and could have gone still faster. 
" You may thank yourselves for this," exclaims Osbal- 
deston, well up at the time, Ashton* looking fresh ; but 
* Mr. Osbaldeston sold Ashton to Lord Plymouth for four hundred 
guineas, after having ridden him six seasons. 
