92 THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 



we have a pack of riff-raff counterskippers to 

 over-ride hounds, halloo, head the fox, and 

 play the devil. And as if this was not enough 

 for one blessed day's misery the Squire him- 

 self generally finds fault all day long with 

 everybody and everything, when the fixture's 

 at these four cross ways." 



'' We had better christen them the cross 

 purposes then," returned Will Sykes. 



*' I don't mean to say," continued Tom, 

 without noticing the huntsman's remark, 

 * * but he may have — heaven knows ! — ^lots of 

 causes to put him out of temper; still it's 

 rather hard to feel oneself suffering for the 

 faults of others. ' ' 



"It is not an unusual circumstance, 

 though," said Will Sykes. ** I have often 

 heard of similar instances unconnected with 

 hounds and hunting." 



Some of the field had arrived before us, and 

 others were trotting briskly up, the hoofs of 

 their horses clattering along the roads in all 

 directions. 



' * We must look out for ourselves to-day, ' ' 

 said Trimbush, " or there will be cases for 

 the hospital." 



" They are a rough-looking set," replied I, 



