FOX AND HOUND 



up in the lane." Snob is here in the best of company, 

 and that moment perhaps the happiest of his life ; but 

 not satisfied with his situation, wishing to out-Herod 

 Herod, and to have a fine story to tell when he gets 

 home, he pushes to his speed on ground on which all 

 regular Leicestershire men are careful, and the death- 

 warrant of the little bay horse is signed. It is true he 

 gets first to the gate, and has no idea of opening it ; 

 sees it contains five new and strong bars, that will 

 neither bend nor break ; has a great idea of a fall, but 

 no idea of refusing ; presses his hat firmly on his head, 

 and gets his whip-hand at liberty to give the good little 

 nag a refresher ; but all at once perceives it will not 

 do. When attempting to collect him for the effort, he 

 finds his mouth dead and his neck stiff; fancies he 

 hears something like a wheezing in his throat ; and 

 discovers quite unexpectedly that the gate would open, 

 wisely avoids a fall, which was booked had he attempted 

 to leap it. He pulls up then at the gate ; and as he 

 places the hook of his whip under the latch, John 

 White goes over it close to the hinge-post, and Captain 

 Ross upon Clinker, follows him. The Reviewer then 

 walks through. 



'The scene now shifts. On the other side of the 

 lane is a fence of this description : it is a newly plashed 

 hedge, abounding in strong growers, as they are called, 

 and a yawning ditch on the further side ; but, as is 

 peculiar to Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, a 

 considerable portion of the blackthorn, left uncut, 



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