124 THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 



ever he attempted to thread the covers, never 

 bangs fire now, but sv^^eeps straight through 

 them. In order to be on good terms with him, 

 therefore, we must act in the same manner, 

 and to lose no precious second of time, 

 remember, that the moment we reach a cover, 

 the chances are a hundred to one that he is 

 already through. If not, we shall instantly 

 know that the pull is in our favour by his 

 hanging, for, if it was not for the general 

 lule of foxes hanging in covers, they would 

 serve us, in nineteen cases out of twenty, as 

 the devil's own does, and run us clean out of 

 all scent." 



" Being so crafty," returned I, " I'm 

 surprised that they don't depend more upon 

 that which would save them, their sfeed.'' 



" The reason is this," added Trimbush. 

 "Although much faster than we are, and 

 with power of equal endurance, they cannot 

 bear the heat of the day as well as we can. 

 It should be recollected also, that we have 

 rested the night before, and commence our 

 work with empty bellies in the morning ; but 

 the fox has been on the pad foraging for food 

 when we were asleep, and, perhaps, is gorged 

 at the moment we unkennel him. He, there- 



