34 THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 



replied Ned Adams, in a tone and manner 

 portraying his humour, " that the devil 

 himself couldn't get to their heads. I did my 

 best, and, like many o' my betters, was 

 beaten." 



** Well, well! " rejoined the huntsman 

 with glee, " it's the first time that I ever 

 heard of a whipper-in not being able to stop 

 a puppy, cub-hunting. Ha, ha, ha." 



** It was Trimbush, and not him," 

 returned the irate Ned. 



'* Oh ! " added Will Sykes, ** It was Trim- 

 bush, eh? It wasn't worth while then, I 

 suppose, to get to the head of one without the 

 other, and yet, if I am told rightly, it would 

 have been a difficult job to have separated 

 them." 



The second whip was evidently chafed at 

 this bantering, and turned away with a 

 flushed cheek, and a tongue muttering any- 

 thing but his prayers. 



Upon entering the kennel again, all my 

 companions came round me, and each, in 

 turn, licked my torn ears and eyes, and were 

 as kind and friendly as if I had been a 

 brother to each. 



I am glad to see you back again," 



( ( 



