Bob and the Fox, 79 



which would have ended Bob's need for reins 

 in this world ; all the same, he did not want 

 me to spoil them. 



Bob Ward was a good huntsman, and the 

 Hertfordshire people sing his praises to this 

 day ; I join most cordially in the chorus. But 

 Bob dearly loved a fox, and he would go a 

 long way to save one for his pack. I was 

 out one day with my harriers, and we found 

 a fox in the open and had a very good hunt 

 with him. At that time the fox-hounds were 

 kennelled at Stratton Park, and he came 

 right up to the park, and I knew he was only 

 just in front of me, and that he was pretty 

 well beaten. 



Bob stood against the gate in the park. 

 " Did you see him, Bob ? " I said. 



'' See him, yes," he said, '* and he's at Sandy 

 Warren by now." (Sandy Warren, as those 

 of my readers acquainted with that country 

 will know, was a good three miles ofiF.) I 

 was mad, for I knew old Bob was jealous, 

 and wanted me to stop them. 



