368 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



the morning was most propitious ; secondly, Wallier, on his best horse, 

 appeared bent on mischief, declaring he would give twenty pounds for 

 one hour, best pace, " over yonder country," pointing towards as fine a 

 one for hounds, as any man could desire ; lastly, our fox did face that 

 fine country, with every hound on the scent of him, and a fair start for 

 all. ** By heavens," said I to myself, " but we are in for a duster !" as 

 I saw Walker putting the extraordinary little chesnut at a wall as high as 

 himself, and at nearly full speed too, not appearing to know or to care 

 what was on the other side, where there happened to be a yawner, which 

 the impetus given by the pace enabled him to clear, all but the hind 

 legs, which dropped short. A more beautiful start, over a more beau- 

 tiful country, was never seen any where — fine large fields, all grass, and 

 nothing in our front to hang in, wben death fell upon our hopes. The 

 coward fox would not face it, and turned nearly short back, when the 

 pace was not quite so good. This, however, gave him fresh courage, and 

 once more he attempted to gain his point, which was evidently over the 

 country I have alluded to; and he once more faced it with the hounds 

 well on the line. But now for the luck in fox-hunting. He was met 

 by two little girls, who headed him short back, and he entered the glen 

 of Genaldy, from which, however, he was soon viewed away. Our 

 hopes were now revived ; we all got another good start ; wall after wall 

 was jumped as if made of Indian rubber, instead of the sharp-cutting 

 whin-stone; in short, rival spirits were at work, Johnny Dalyell for the 

 honour of Forfarshire (without a fore shoe); and Peter Hay on Corney, 

 and Earle on a good one, for Fife. Whyte Melville and Walker for the 

 pack ; and the worthy, straightforward Sir Ralph Anstruther (who bye 

 the bye nearly jumped over a wall and me at the same time) for all. 

 And now comes the climax. In the midst of this exciting scene, the 

 for once cursed whoo-whoop was heard, and our fox was safe in one 



