74 Seventy Years a Master. 



tired, up got a fresh one, and so we went on 

 from six o'clock until ten, and no blood. At 

 two o'clock we were still running, and the 

 same at three, and they were nothing like 

 killing. At last I concluded that that sort of 

 thing would not do any longer. 



The keeper was standing a little higher up 

 the covert, his gun under his arm. I rode 

 up to him. 



''Look you here, keeper," said I, "Go 

 down one of these rackways, and when you 

 hear them coming up the covert with a cub, 

 if they are nice and handy to him knock him 

 over." 



For half an hour he tried to do so, but 

 never came near one. I borrowed his gun 

 (knowing my mare would let me shoot off her 

 back), and I also tried for ages, but without 

 success. I grew tired, and gave him back the 

 gun. They were still running '' round and 

 round." 



Finally, when they were in the bottom of 

 the wood, I heard a bang ! right up in the far 

 quarter. *' Surely," thought I, " he's never 



