THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 73 



Sykes indicated a disposition to make a hasty- 

 cast down wind. ' * Let them alone, ' ' repeated 

 he. 



" He's certain to be making for the belt of 

 covers on the ridge, sir, ' ' replied Will, * ' and 

 the ploughs are so dry that it is impossible 

 for hounds to carry it over them." 



" Let them alone," quietly rejoined the 

 Squire. ** Let them alone." 



** When allowed to make our own casts, 

 which we always should at first," remarked 

 Trimbush, poking his nose to the ground, 

 " we try down wind first, because that's the 

 way foxes constantly run. It's time enough 

 to cast up when we've made good the cast 

 down. Humph! " continued he, as if 

 puzzled, " I begin to think Will's wrong." 



'* What do you mean ? " inquired I. 



" I don't fancy he's pointed for the covers 

 on the ridge," returned Trimbush; " let's see 

 whether he hasn't headed back," continued 

 he. 



We now tried up wind, and, sure enough, 

 hit it off again under a hedgerow. 



" Ha, ha! " laughed Trimbush. '* He's 

 a sinking one, and has turned to die." 



We now rattled on full swing over a 



