THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 127 



said, " We must try to break the charm." 



I felt all on fire as the cover appeared, and 

 could scarcely refrain from dashing after 

 Tom when he trotted off to take his station. 

 Trimbush, seeing my impatience, said, 

 " Gently, my lad, gently. There's nothing 

 like spirit; but wait for orders, and never 

 yield to the impulse of committing a breach 

 of discipline." 



Notwithstanding this reasoning, however, I 

 could see that he had enough to do to keep a 

 check upon his own inclination to break away. 

 But our impatience was not kept long upon 

 the stretch. Will was as anxious to begin as 

 we were, and no sooner had the whips taken 

 their places than he threw us into cover, but 

 without the slightest noise being made. There 

 was not so much even as the crack of a thong. 



" That's right," said Trimbush, going 

 like a bullet through the furze, " although I 

 should not wonder but he's gone." 



The hounds, instructed by Trimbush, and 

 agreeing to adopt his proceedings, were 

 Dashwood, Hector, Loyalty, Wildboy, and 

 Rubicon, all old friends of his. We went 

 together in a body full swing, more as if we 

 were flying to a view halloo than drawing a 



