THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 123 



'' I have viewed many a one in my day," 

 replied Trimbush ; ' ' but never did I put eyes 

 upon such a v^olf-like looking animal. He's 

 as black as thunder, and as long as a rope- 

 walk. You can't mistake the devil's own, as 

 Will Sykes christened him, if you chance to 

 view him; but we have not done so for the 

 last six times of hunting him. ' ' 



** View or no view," rejoined I, ** we'll 

 stick to him." 



" For a month, if we can but hunt, yard by 

 yard, inch by inch," said the old hound, with 

 fixed determination expressed in his proudly 

 erected head and lashing stern. 



" You've got some manoeuvre or artful 

 dodge in store for him, I know," I remarked. 



" I have," responded my companion, " and 

 you shall not only hear what it is, but shall 

 join in the scheme. As I told you a short 

 time since, most foxes hang in cover as long 

 as they dare or can. It is their nature to 

 screen themselves as much as possible, and 

 they face the open only when compelled and 

 pressed. A fox that has been often hunted, 

 however, is of course more shy than one who 

 has not, and the devil's own, having 

 invariably met with a precious rattling when- 



