52 HUNTING AND SPORTING NOTES. 



' Well, Tom,' asked an old sportsman of his son the 

 other day, 'what did you do from Tinker's Hill?'" 



' Quick thing, Sir, for twenty minutes — pace quite 

 aw^ful — lots of fellows came to grief. Fences, Sir, like 

 green baize doors — couldn't see through them. I shan't 

 show again till the leaves are down.' 



' Yes, Tom, the hedges are very green for the time of 

 year ; and so I suppose w^ere more than half your field 

 as to their notions of riding to hounds. But wdiat of the 

 pack ; did they look well ?' 



' Charming, Sir. Sleek as moles.' 



* How did they w^ork their fox ?' 



' Never saw a hound, Sir, after they left the gorse ; 

 except one confounded old brute, who got in my way at a 

 bullfinch ; aud I believe my horse broke his back.' 



'Poor old Chaunter, perhaps?' 



' Not unlikely. Sir ; for he opened his pipes pretty loud 

 when I went over him.' 



* Ah ! that's a bad day's work for you, my boy. The 

 squire will never forgive you, if he knows you killed old 

 Chaunter.' 



' He got in the way. Sir — just in my line, and I could 

 not pull up. Highflyer would have it.' 



' Turn aside, Tom : never ride in upon the hounds ; 

 keep always wide of the pack, as I used to do. But 

 there, it can't be helped now. 1 must walk another couple 

 of puppies for him. I suppose you made your bow to the 

 Master ?' 



' Yes, Sir ; confound him ! And he made his to me in 

 a way I did not quite like.' 



* How so?' 



' Why, I was hallooing the fox, thinking to do him a 

 service thereby, when he rode up to me, aiid, lifting his 

 hat said — Thank you, Sir, for your kind intentions, but I 

 pay three men for doing that which 3'ou are attempting.' 



' A polite reproof, Tom, for meddling in his servants' 

 business. I dare say you were hallooing the w^rong fox, 

 and doing mischief , for which some Masters would have 

 thanked you in different language. W^ell, did you see 

 Alice Ashton V 



' Yes, at a distance, surrounded by half-a-dozen 

 Crimean heroes.' 



