Foot Beagles 215 



pillows about the floor for hounds and go galloping away over 

 hill and dale, tooting merrily and calling encouragement to 

 Bluebell, Barmaid and Dexter. 



As it is, my scout winks and blinks as the lash goes indis- 

 criminately about for a crack. He looks with patient for- 

 bearance on my weakness, however, when I stand in the only 

 available space I have and cry, "Speak to it, Barmaid! on, 

 Workman, on, good dog." Crack! "Hark to Bluebell! hark 

 to Bluebell! Rouse him, my beauties!" Crack! "Away with 

 him, away with him!" etc. 



But the chase. Of that you shall hear presently, for we 

 must first journey to the meet. With lunch scarcely over I 

 hurry into my knickers and rush down Holywell Street to 

 the corner of St. Catherine's Lane and the Broad. The New 

 College brake had been awaiting tw^o delinquents besides my- 

 self and we three appearing had scarce time to clamber aboard, 

 before we were wheeling away, bound for the open country. 

 Aside from the fun of beagling, these country excursions are 

 a treat; for though the Cornwall coast has its peculiar charm 

 and the lake country its special attraction, yet the scenery 

 round about Oxford has no superior in all England. From 

 Magdalene College another brake has started bound for our 

 destination. Still another from New College has preceded us, 

 making three in all and about a dozen fellows to each. We are 

 surely a lot of light-hearted, light-headed, college fellows out 

 for a good time. A superannuated hedge cutter, moved by 

 some sympathetic impulse, waved his hat in salutation as we 

 clattered by. Children in legions scattered along our way, 

 catcliing the contagious spirit, ran with us shouting in wild 

 freedom till outdistanced. On we go, over the liill to Cumnor 

 Place, passing the church suggestive of Amy Robsart and 

 her churlish gaoler, Anthony Foster. Beyond Cumnor Place 

 the country side becomes more and more interesting. 

 An autumnal haze heightens the effect and gives to distance 



