Fox Hunting in Scotland 273 



King Arthur and Kildare (who were also eagerly listening) 

 are of the same opinion." 



Hurriedly mounting, we ride out for a better view, and 

 just in time to catch sight of a travelling fox leaving a flock 

 of sheep. What a sight! Every sheep with head up was 

 watcliing with curious interest the bundle of fur rolling along 

 over the crest of the hill. 



"That's liim," cried JNIcDougal, meaning he was the hunted 

 fox. "Do ye no mind him dragging his brush as if he was 

 aboot quitting tha job, and can Ve no hear the hounds' music in 

 the wood below? They'll be out in a wee." And we hurry on 

 to the line over the crest of the liill, toward which point the 

 fox was making. JNIeantime, hound music had ceased 

 altogether, but hardly had we reached the point we were mak- 

 ing for, when a hound came through the hedge from the wood 

 below, struck the trail, and with a challenge that called every 

 other hound to the line raced away towards the top of the 

 hill where w^e were waiting. What a sight ! One hound after 

 another joined in the chase and the "heavenly music" rose to 

 one grand chorus that filled all the vale and came on the wind 

 to us mingled with its own echo. On came the leading hounds, 

 the sheep fleeing in all possible haste. Of course there was a 

 check, as Reynard knew there would be when h*^ S.ieaked 

 through the flock. When the last huaPj^J^'ad ^^^\-ne up vAih the 

 leaders, who failed to pi'^k "p the line^y tl^'eir own cast for- 

 ward, up stands, the big IMcDougal high in liis stirrups, swing- 

 ing his hat and shouting, "Talla-ho-gan-awa! Tally-ho! 

 Tally-lio-awa r 'Twas enough, on came the eager pack to 

 his cheer, picking up the line as they raced each other to the 

 crest of the hill. Then, in a pace that silenced their tongues, 

 they drove on like a cavalry charge down the beautiful slope. 

 There was not a single rider in sight. The swampy bottom 

 land whence the pack came had probably stopped the field. 



For three miles the big-hearted jNIcDougal, on the big- 



