CAPTAIN SHABBYHOUNDE 261 



holloa as he worked among the gorse on foot soon 

 proclaimed the varmint astir, as was very soon con- 

 firmed by the crash of his redoubtable dog pack 

 forcing their way to the spot. Presently Jack Stevens's 

 halloo away ! was heard from below, and joy and fear 

 became depicted on every face. Scream ! screech ! 

 twang, twang, crack, crack, whoop ! whoop ! all noise, 

 bustle, and confusion — yonder he goes ! Which way ! 

 over the hill ! No, he's turned ! Now d'ye see him ? 

 No, I don't ! Yes, I do ! No, it's a dog ! 



"Follow me, I know the country" cried the Captain 

 to his pupil, as he hustled along, jostling two or three 

 funkers out of their places, and leaping over the 

 gorse and brushwood that obstructed his path, he 

 dived down into the bottom. The Second Whip 

 brought Osbaldeston his horse, and the Captain and 

 Milksop start fair with the hounds, followed by all 

 the bold boys of the county. It's a rare burst ! and 

 there's a rare scent ! 



It was worth going a long way to see Osbaldeston 

 ride Pilot, or any of his 



"Cock horses to Banbury Cross," 



followed by that best of good Whips, Jack Stevens, 

 and our pen even now inclines to follow the Squire 

 instead of sticking to the subject at the head of our 

 paper — Captain Shabbyhounde. The Squire, how- 

 ever, and we must part for the present, for the 

 Captain durst not ride before him, and his object 

 now was to break the fences for his new acquaint- 

 ance, and show what a wonderful horse he was on. 

 Accordingly at the first divergible point the Captain 

 struck off to the left, clearing four stiff rails instead 

 of opening the bridle gate which they joined. Milk- 

 sop followed him, for all lads like leaping, and 

 they presently found themselves in great enjoyment 

 among the bullfinches. The Squire's red coat on 

 the right acted as a sort of guide, and first one, and 



