THE HUNTING FIELD 31 



away, leaving behind the weakest of the Htter, 

 and hounds are giving him a very warm time. 

 Orders have gone forth to the whips not to stop 

 the pack now if a cub should go away, but this 

 one does not seem at all inclined to try his luck 

 in the open. 



The ground is becoming foiled, and only a few 

 of the old hounds can speak to the line, until at 

 last the music ceases altogether. The cub has 

 probably lain down, and we must now refind him. 

 Take a ride some distance away from the hunts- 

 man and watch it closely. You know the cub is 

 somewhere in the quarter between you and the 

 huntsman. 



The buzzing of a fly is the only sound that 

 breaks the silence in your immediate neighbour- 

 hood, and were it not for an occasional faint 

 twang of the horn, you might think the hunt 

 had left. 



The frightened twitter of a blackbird tells of 

 something moving at last, and you gaze intently 

 down the ride. The next second the animal you 

 are looking for is standing there in full view ; you 

 never saw him come, and you can hardly believe 

 your eyes. He has his mouth open and tongue 

 hanging out in spite of the few minutes' rest, 

 whilst with head slightly on one side he is im- 

 movable as a statue, listening for sounds of his 

 enemies ; then, satisfied they are some distance 

 away, he creeps into the undergrowth. 



Now you may give your lungs a chance in a 



