32 THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 



can assure ye, " replied my companion. ' ' But 

 I must not lose any more breath in talking to 

 you, ' ' continued he ; " I may feel the want of 

 it." 



I had already done so, but was too proud 

 to let the symptoms be visible in any flagging 

 on my part. Desirous as I was, however, to 

 maintain the pace we had been going for some 

 minutes, and over part of an enclosed country 

 with strong fences, I began to feel my 

 strength failing, and the absurdity of my 

 boast of endurance becoming manifested. I 

 now, in spite of every exertion, dropped in 

 the rear; and although Trimbush cheered me 

 to hold on, I could not but think there was a 

 chuckle of triumph in his often-repeated 

 query, "Why don't you come along? 

 Recollect what you said about thirty miles 

 without a check." And then, as if to mock 

 me, the old hound increased his speed, and, 

 upon reaching a wide and level common, ran 

 completely out of view, leaving me alone in 

 my glory. 



For a short time I endeavoured to struggle 

 forwards, but quickly losing the line, and be- 

 coming bewildered and giddy from fatigue, I 

 soon staggered to a stand-still. Ignorant of 



