Cub-htmting and After 



he is the foremost. His nose is not less ex- 

 cellent than his speed. How he carries the scent ! 

 and when he loses it, see how eagerly he flings 

 to recover it again ! There, now he's ahead 

 again ! See how they top that hedge ! Now, how 

 they mount the hill ! Observe what a head they 

 carry ; and show me, if you can, one shuffler or 

 skirter amongst them all. They are like a com- 

 pany of brave fellows, who, when they engage in 

 an undertaking, share its dangers and fatigues 

 equally." 



At the end of nineteen minutes Squire Osbalde- 

 ston's hounds came to a fault, but Pastime hits 

 off the scent, and away they go over the cream 

 of Leicestershire. '' Not a field of less than forty, 

 some a hundred acres — no more signs of the 

 plough than in Siberia." How different to Beck- 

 ford's uphill and down-dale Dorsetshire, with its 

 chalky downs and wilderness of woods. How 

 Beckford teaches, when he seems only to aim 

 at amusement, so keen and observing a sportsman 

 is he. 



" It was then the fox I saw, as we came down 

 the hill ; those crows directed me the way to 

 look, and the sheep ran from him as he passed 

 along. Hounds are now on the very spot, yet 

 the sheep stop them not. Now see with what 

 eagerness they cross the plain ! Galloper losses 

 his place ; Brusher takes it. See them fling for 



97 G 



