CUB-HUNTING 85 



rained hard, I was on the best little galloway that ever was 

 foaled, then only three years old my chestnut mare Freyia. 

 Longstaff, who had been gamekeeper to the grandfather of the 

 present Lord Northampton and a pretty good one, from the 

 quantity of game he once had (the remnants of a good show of 

 pheasants were still in Yardley Chase when I first came there) 

 assured me he had several litters of foxes ; and, depending on 

 his information, not having had time to inspect the chase my- 

 self, I drew for them. I do not think there was a cub in the 

 chase. An old fox was kind enough to give the hounds a view 

 at him ; but from him I was subsequently obliged to refrain, as 

 he went into the corn. Nevertheless, this old fox did me some 

 good, by showing himself to the eyes and noses of my main 

 dependence, the hounds that had hunted stag, and, at a cheer 

 from me, capped as I had an opportunity of capping them to a 

 view, they ran him right merrily. I drew again, and, discover- 

 ing that at least no one belonging to the chase could show me 

 where the cubs had used, I resolved to return to the Harrold 

 woods, with which I was better acquainted. Large as the 

 quarters are, and tangled with blackthorn, briar, hazel, oak, 

 and luxuriant grass as the underwood is, though I knew there 

 were cubs there or thereabouts stump-bred foxes shift a long 

 way sometimes in the course of a night I had difficulty, from 

 the want of a body of hounds to draw, in finding one. Having 

 but one thing left for it, } rode into the thick of the cover 

 myself. In this way, with not more than two or three hounds 

 drawing wide of me, I had forced my passage into the middle 

 of Harrold Dungey, when, within ten yards of my foot, I heard 

 an eager whine and a dash as of a hound at something, and 

 then such a crash for about forty couples of hounds were 

 round me as made my heart almost jump out of my mouth. 

 Full cry in a moment was the pack, for the cub was in the 

 midst of them, and right lustily did I encourage them. The 

 rain had ceased, it had all come down, and though the woods 

 were wet, there was a scent. The first ride I got into, how 

 eagerly I watched, to view the fox, ascertain if it was a cub, 



