36 THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 



" Did you see Ned Adams upon your 

 return? " I inquired. 



"No," replied Trimbush. " Mark, the 

 feeder, was waiting for me, knowing that I 

 should be back in the course of the night, let 

 the distance be ever so great; and the good 

 old fellow examined my feet and gave me a 

 good supper, without the least show of bad 

 temper for having kept him from bed." 



'* The second whip would not have treated 

 ye so," I observed. 



" Perhaps not," returned he. ** You 

 mustn't suppose, however, that Ned bears any 

 malice. He might feel vexed and chafed at 

 not being able to obey orders, but he always 

 lets bygones he bygones." 



In the course of discussion relative to the 

 events of our stolen run, and during which 

 the remainder of our companions formed a 

 willing auditory, I asked Trimbush how he 

 discovered the difference between the scent of 

 a dog fox and that of a vixen. 



** In the first place," responded he, " it is 

 never so strong; and when she has either laid 

 down her cubs, is about to do so, or has not 

 left off suckling, there is a peculiar odour 

 with her which cannot be mistaken. Now, 



