26 THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 



Craft in the young is unwholesome ; while, if 

 the old don't possess some, they have lived 

 too long unprofitably. Now, we have no time 

 to stop, and if we had we could do nothing 

 with the scent on this hard, dry road : but 

 having found our fox up wind, and as he 

 turned down upon breaking cover, I know 

 that he will not turn again. We have, there- 

 fore, but to make our own cast good one way ; 

 and then, in the event of not being able to hit 

 it off, to try the other to be certain of getting 

 on the line — unless, indeed, he should chance 

 to head short back, which not one fox out of a 

 hundred will do, unless it is to die." 



* * But we shall have no chance of making a 

 cast," said I, " with Ned at our sterns." 



" I know the point he's making for," 

 returned my friend ; * * and if we once get clear 

 of this everlasting lane on to the scrubs, I'll 

 forgive Ned if he stops us this time. I do 

 like," continued he, "a run o' this kind. 

 There's a spice about anything stolen." 



Upon coming to a sudden turn in the road, 

 Trimbush all but stood still at seeing a flock of 

 sheep in our way; who, upon our nearing 

 them, began scampering before us, and 

 became wedged together like one solid body. 



