FOX AND HOUND 



* Bonaparte's Old Guard in its best days, would not 

 have stopped such men as these, so long as life remained 

 in them. Only those who have witnessed it can know 

 in what an extraordinary manner hounds that are left 

 behind in a cover make their way through a crowd, 

 and get up to leading ones of a pack, which have been 

 fortunate in getting away with their fox. It is true 

 they possess the speed of a race-horse ; still, nothing 

 short of their high mettle could induce them to thread 

 their way through a body of horsemen going the best 

 pace with the prospect of being ridden over and 

 maimed at every stride they take. But, as Beckford 

 observes, '* 'Tis the dash of the foxhound which 

 distinguishes him." A turn, however, in their favour, 

 or a momentary loss of scent in the few hounds that 

 have shot ahead — an occurrence to be looked for on 

 such occasions — joins head and tail together, and the 

 scent being good, every hound settles to his fox ; the 

 pace gradually improves ; vires acquirit eundo ; a 

 terrible burst is the result ! 



* At the end of nineteen minutes the hounds come to 

 a fault, and for a moment the fox has a chance ; in fact, 

 they have been pressed upon by the horses, and have 

 rather over-run the scent. ** What a pity," says one. 

 **What a shame!" cries another; alluding, perhaps 

 to a young one, who would and could have gone 

 still faster. **You may thank yourselves for this," 

 exclaims Osbaldeston, well up at the time, Ashton^ 



^ Mr. Osbaldeston sold Ashton to Lord Plymouth for four hundred guineas 

 after having ridden him six seasons. 



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