58 THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 



news in the County Chronicle — natural 

 phenomenon, accident, or offence, or anything 

 sufficient to cause the generality of his 

 neighbours' hair to stand on end was related 

 to him — his short unchanging observation 

 was, ' Shouldn't wonder ! ' However, thought 

 I, the ice of your surprise will be broken at 

 last." 



' ' And was it ? " inquired I . 



** You shall hear," resumed Trimbush. 

 " When Harry came to the kennel, as was his 

 wont just at break o' day, and his eyes fell on 

 the white bones of the unfortunate whipper-in 

 spread upon the ground, he continued puffing 

 a short black pipe, constantly between his 

 lips, for a few seconds in silence, and then 

 taking it from them with a slow deliberate 

 movement, ejaculated, "Shouldn't wonder! 

 D — n me if they an't hashed the whip.' " 



** And was that all he said? " I asked. 



*' Every word," returned my companion. 



At this moment Will Sykes arrived 

 mounted, accompanied by the two whippers- 

 in; and to his order, Mark threw back the 

 door of the court upon its hinges, and out we 

 rushed with a chorus of merry tongues ringing 

 for our freedom, and the joy that we knew 

 to be in store for us. 



