190 THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 



observed the huntsman, " and if they don't 

 get one of the others up, for they have all 

 dropped but this, they'll soon run into him." 



I now heard a succession of cracks from a 

 thong, which I knew to be Ned Adams's. 



" He's headed a fox back," said Trimbush, 

 exultingly, " but it isn't our hunted one. 

 He's out — come along." 



A bunch of us swept from the side of the 

 cover, and with heads up, dashed across a 

 field, before Will was aware that we had got 

 away. 



" They're out, by heaven! " exclaimed the 

 huntsman. " Where can Ned be ? " 



"All right," returned the Squire. " They 

 broke from the side, and no one's to blame." 



We carried the scent through the first hedge 

 into a summerland, and threw up. Will, 

 coming up, took hold of us rather hastily, and 

 cast us down wind. 



" Gently, William, gently," said his 

 master, reprovingly. " You appear to have 

 forgotten the golden rule of letting them 

 alone." 



We felt down wind for some distance, but 

 not making it out, turned up, and as we were 

 passing the spot where we had jumped 



