52 THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 



*' till sunset for a meal, unless you earn a 

 share for yourself." 



** How so? " inquired I. 



** This will be the first meet o' the season, 

 and your first day of regular work. Mind," 

 said Trimbush, admonishingly, as he showed 

 a long row of very white and strong teeth, 

 " to let me see that you have profited by my 

 lessons and the experience you've had in cub- 

 hunting, or your jacket may be well shaken 

 when least expected." 



** You needn't begin to threaten," rejoined 

 I, somewhat indignantly, ** without any 

 cause. A rate's well enough," I continued, 

 " when a fault is committed; but there's no 

 occasion to meet it half-way." 



** True," returned Trimbush, ** quite 

 true; and your remark only proves that a 

 young head may sometimes correct an old 

 tongue, despite what may be said to the 

 contrary. One of the greatest faults with all 

 whippers-in," resumed he, ** is the rating us 

 in anticipation of our doing wrong ; or, after 

 committing it, before soaking in the double- 

 thong; whereas, they should wait until the 

 cause is given, and then — after blistering us 

 with the flax — proceed to lecture upon the 



