80 Seventy Years a Master. 



'' Well," I said, '^if he's at Sandy Warren 

 by now, I might as well let 'em go, for we 

 sha'n't kill him." And I let them go. 



The fox went round the house, and out of 

 the park on the far side. How Bob Ward ever 

 got across in time will always be a mystery to 

 me, but he was there when we got over the park. 



'' Don't kill the old fellow, Mr. Eace ! Don't 

 kill him ! " he pleaded. 



Just as I was going through the gate I saw 

 reynard crawling along under the next hedge. 

 However, they checked, and my Whipper-in 

 turned them, and there was an end of it. 

 But I knew that I had only to clap 'em 

 into view, and they would have killed him. 



A week afterwards Squire Barnett (then 

 Master of Bob's pack) came to me. 



" It would have served old Bob right if 

 you had gone on and killed that fox," said he. 

 '^ Fancy him telling you he was at Sandy 

 Warren, when he knew perfectly well he was 

 dead beat, and only just in front of you." 



I had no idea at the time that Mr. Barnett 

 was anywhere near, but he had apparently 



