142 REMINISCEJvCES OF A HUXTSMAN. 



fore, wlien the middle hole was opened, close at one end 

 of the drain, which he had cleared from hounds, when, 

 Avaving the pack back with his whip, he saw the fox 

 looked'out, but thinking it would not do, the fox drew 

 in again. Up came Mr. Magniac and other gentlemen ; 

 and feeling some sort of respect for an animal, without 

 reference to his pursuers, who had shown them such 

 a run, " Oh, George," they cried, " let him out ; don't 

 murder him." George, who was always, as I said 

 before, the best-mannered servant possible, whispered 

 to my brother, " He can't get away, sir," and waved 

 the hounds back a little further, but still they stood 

 in a semi-circle not twenty yards from the drain. 

 The fox looked out again, and, thinking it the best 

 chance George would afford him, bolted. Instead, 

 however, of taking to the field, he ran bang at the 

 farm-yard gate, which was close to him, and in that 

 farm-yard, well huddled together, was a considerable 

 flock of sheep. The fox went under their bellies, and 

 the hounds, topping the gate, landed on their backs, 

 consequently all view of the fox was lost. The situ- 

 ation of the premises admitted of no slipping round ; 

 the only way through was by the farm-yard, and that 

 for a time was effectually blocked by the sheep. 

 Hounds and sheep all one on the other, the fox took 

 that opportunity of slipping away, well trampled on 

 and soiled by the sheep ; and the sheep seeing him, 

 burst the hurdles that were tied across the exit from 

 the yard, and went scampering over the field after him. 

 One hurdle only giving way, it was some moments 

 before the wedged-up muttons permitted a horseman 

 to o;et through. The hounds never hit their fox 

 ajrain, and Geori^e Carter returned without the laurels 

 I bid him win. To my question of why he did not 



