188 THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 



after being flogged three times in one day for 

 riot at hare, he repeated the fault whenever 

 he had the chance and thought the whips 

 could not get at him." 



*' He's to go, then, sir ? " said Will. 



" The sooner the better," replied the 

 Squire. " I wish to have my hounds so 

 perfect, that if any one of them speaks in 

 cover, you may be certain that it's a fox, and 

 know that he may be cheered without fear of 

 a mistake. Unless this be the case, what 

 pleasure can there be to me, as their master, 

 or satisfaction to you, as their huntsman ? ' ' 



Will gave no answer, and to account for the 

 obstinate Harbinger's fate, all I can say is, 

 that he was led from the kennel the following 

 day, with a coil of rope round his neck. 



We now carried the drag into the cover, 

 and Trimbush and myself acknowledged the 

 scent. Will gave us a cheer that startled 

 many a pigeon from her roost, and Tom Holt 

 and Ned Adams spurred right and left, with 

 orders to head short back every fox that made 

 his appearance. We got up to our cub, and 

 drove him through the cover at a slashing 

 rate. The morning being warm, and the 

 scent good, there was no breathing time, and 



