64 GUN, RIFLE, AND HOUND. 



lightly hammered served to keep the upper edge of 

 the bag against the roof of the earth, These arrange- 

 ments being completed, the keeper had only to take 

 up his post to leeward, and preferably in a tree, as 

 before described. When he was ready he blew his 

 whistle. 



Its note is a welcome sound to the rest of us, who 

 have grown somewhat chilly with waiting. In answer 

 thereto we proceed to uncouple the eager hounds, 

 who dash into the covert. For a minute or two all 

 is still, then " yap ! yap ! " a young hound opens on 

 a rabbit, but the old ones know better what their 

 quarry is to-night. We walk quietly up a ride to- 

 wards where they are trying. " Yap ! yap ! " again, 

 and presently old "Waldmann" endorses it with his 

 deep " yough ! yough ! " that makes the silent woods 

 ring. We run up the hill and find the little pack 

 pushing their game through a thick covert of young 

 firs. 



" Tallyho ! tallyho ! " screams one of the boys, who 

 has run on to the top of the plantation. Joining him, 

 we learn that he has seen a badger cross the line of 

 bright moonlight that strikes close to the root of a big 

 oak. In a minute the eager pack fly to the holloa, and 

 putting their heads down, scurry off on the line with 

 a burst of music. After them we go, getting many a 

 scratch and tear from branch and thorn. The badger 

 is a sly old veteran, and by no means intends to 

 disclose the whereabouts of his earth directly he is 

 found. So he makes for the edge of the big wood, 

 and for a moment we fear he is a traveller and will 



