THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 237 



the occasion to which I allude, the fox having run down 

 towards the river, instead of crossing, held on in a con- 

 tinuous line along the meadows, for a space of two 

 miles at the very least, being all the way mid-deep in 

 water. He was never obhged to swim, but was able to 

 maintain a wonderful pace for any animal half-seas 

 over ; and well might such an event have been hterally 

 termed an aquatic expedition, at the instigation, and in 

 honour of the name of such a huntsman as old Wells. 

 Never was he nearer being pumped out than in this 

 splashing chase; such was the pace of hounds, and 

 such the head they carried, that, as he went o'er water 

 like the wind, he had barely enough within himself for 

 spouting ; but, turning half round in his saddle, he was 

 just capable of giving vent to an exclamation, indi- 

 cative of his opinion, as touching that scent of which 

 he had not known the touch. " It's in the h'air, my 

 lord, it's all in the h'air." Now, under the circum- 

 stances, and considering that by no possibility could 

 any ideas of currant-jelly, at that moment, have been 

 running riot within his brain, the aspiration of the 

 element was very pardonable, a '' trifle light as air," 

 to which it gave the emphasis — and, badinage apart, 

 that simple speech is, to my mind (*'' jealous" of the 

 truth of doctrine), a 



" confirmation strong, 

 As proof of holy writ." 



