142 THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 



"And health, you might have added," con- 

 tinued Trimbush. " Nothing is so bad as 

 close confinement for us, and, indeed, for all 

 kinds of sporting dogs. The more liberty we 

 have, the better for our condition, spirit, and 

 general good. Trencher-fed hounds," said 

 he, " are remarkable for the superiority they 

 possess over their kennelled brethren, and the 

 only cause is from the freedom they enjoy." 



" What a pity it is," said I, *' that we 

 can't make our rulers comprehend us as well 

 as we understand them." 



" Their heads are so thick," replied Trim- 

 bush, contemptuously. "A great many are 

 solid, like stones, all the way through, I'm 

 sure." 



" Some act as if they were," rejoined I. 



"Act? " sneered the old hound. " Upon 

 my soul I can't think what nineteen out of 

 twenty were born for. Certainly not for 

 fox-hunting; that's quite evident." 



" It's a good thing," I remarked, " that 

 our master is not one of the stone-heads." 



' * Yes, ' ' returned he, ' ' we are fortunate in 

 that respect, and in most others. Will and 

 Mark are as famous hound servants as ever 

 entered a kennel, and, as a good huntsman 



