134 EEMINISCEXCES OF A HUNTSMAN. 



bundle along — there is no better word for it ; every 

 one of tliem mute and racing, till they came to the 

 expected incident of a friend with his hat off, waving 

 which way they were to take up the scent. How 

 they would sometimes fly that beautiful chase by 

 the rides, either back into my country, or into the 

 Duke of Grafton's country ; and oh what pardonable 

 mirth it was to pick up a fox there ! When George 

 Carter left me, the cause of which will be hereafter 

 explained, and was re-engaged for the Duke of 

 Grafton's establishment as huntsman, whenever I 

 knew that he had a fixture in Yardley Chase, a 

 look at the weather-cock would enable me to decide 

 where he would draw, and the same judgment could 

 be formed by him, when the paper told him I was 

 to be there. If ever trees knew the voices of two 

 huntsmen, those about Cowper's Oak must have 

 learned mine ; and those at Collier's Urn become 

 acquainted with the voice of George Carter, for they 

 were favourite vicinities for a fox. To show that 

 myself and my hounds were pretty well masters of 

 our work, the last year I hunted that country, after 

 Carter had left me, I found seventeen foxes in Yard- 

 ley Chase ; and Avith a run to each, taking them all 

 more or less away, I missed but three, having killed 

 fourteen. 



A curious incident happened to me in this chase, 

 which, as a reminiscence, is worth relating. There 

 was a fine stout yeomanly-looking farmer occu- 

 pying adjacent land, who always met me there, 

 and was remarkably attentive and civil. Very often 

 when we were drawing for a fox, we had been 

 deceived by as loud and clear a view holloa as man 

 could hear. It rang in the air, was acknowledsred 



