THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 49 



this necessary accomplishment for a whipper- 

 in, Mark was compelled to abandon the 

 design, and to fall back on his former 

 position. After this, no second attempt was 

 made; and so years and years rolled on, and 

 at length discovered the failure of a whipper- 

 in in Old Mark the feeder. As may be 

 supposed from his long experience, no one 

 knew more about us than he did; and the 

 moment his practised eye fell on a hound, he 

 could instantly tell a defective point, let it be 

 never so trifling. Proud and enthusiastic in 

 his calling, the courts and lodging-houses 

 were always clean, dry, and wholesome ; and, 

 late or early, the old man never allowed the 

 most insignificant part of his duties to pass 

 unfinished. The feet of each were carefully 

 examined after returning home, and if foot- 

 sore, washed with bran, warm water, and 

 vinegar. A warm bath, too was also in 

 readiness, and plenty of clean straw to roll 

 m for the purpose of drying. 



Little can be said of Mark's outward man ; 

 for his back was crooked — perchance from 

 continually bending over the troughs and 

 copper — and his legs were lean and long, like 

 a daddy-long-legs; but one of the best 



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