THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 81 



hound, with a mingled look of contempt and 

 indifference, " a very sharp lot indeed. I 

 couldn't think,' he continued, turning to me, 

 " what made the tip of your stern curl over 

 your head and tickle your nose until now. I 

 have heard of a French poodle's being so stiff 

 in the bend that he couldn't get his hind legs 

 to the ground ; but hang me if your conceit is 

 not about a match for his." 



'* But you must admit," observed Chan- 

 cellor, * ' that without him we should not have 

 broken up our fox yesterday." 



**Well!" returned Trimbush, "and 

 supposing I do admit it, what then ? ' ' 



* ' You should not have snatched the honour 

 from him," replied Levity. 



** Honour? " rejoined Trimbush. " Pooh! 

 The honour was already gained before we 

 mouthed the fox. We all like blood for the 

 finish — men as well as hounds — but it does not 

 follow that there may not be quite as much 

 credit due to both without a who-whoop as 

 with it. For instance," continued he, " if 

 ^ that youngster Ringwood had had his nose to 

 the ground — as he should have done the 

 moment the fox was lost to view, instead of 

 occupying himself by stargazing — we should, 



