THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 23 



flattered at my observing his dictate : ' ' now 

 you sound like business. ' ' 



"Have at him! " hallooed Will Sykes. 

 " Yoo-oo-it, hoik! " 



Hounds were now hunting in every 

 direction of the cover; and it was evident 

 that several foxes were before them. 



** The vixen and the whole litter are 

 a-foot ! " I overheard the first whip say. 



** Did you view her ?" inquired Will Sykes. 



** Yes! " was the reply; " and she's gone 

 away." 



" Then there's a dog-fox behind," rejoined 

 the huntsman. 



" I thought so," quietly observed Trim- 

 bush, stooping his muzzle to the ground, and 

 drawing, with infinite gratification to his 

 olfactory nerves. ** I thought so," repeated 

 he: "a vixen, except she's barren, never 

 carries such a scent as that. " 



" You know the difference, then? " 

 returned I. 



** Ay," rejoined Trimbush; " as well as if 

 I had helped to break her up. And so will 

 you in a couple of seasons. * * 



" But how? " asked I. 

 By experience," replied my companion; 



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