268 REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN 



and shot gun, besides amrtmnition, and, so loaded, Tramp's long 

 trot kept me at a pace rather difficult to maintain ; when 

 he checked at the railway I was, therefore, some distance behind, 

 and I saw him try in each direction and then look back for me. 

 Just as I reached him he went on a line of scent down by the 

 side of the railway towards the three plate-layers before 

 mentioned, but, after carrying it on a short distance, he would 

 not have it, but returned to the wires, up to which he had 

 decidedly been right. He then for the first time crept through 

 upon the plates, looked at me, and carried on the scent over the 

 line to the heather on the other side. Here, then, for the first 

 time, I had ocular demonstration as to his fidelity : in the soft 

 sand between the rails I saw the print of a man's footstep, not 

 anything like so large a foot as mine, and yet, when I placed mine 

 purposely by it, it was evident that the stranger was heavier 

 than I was or carried some weight, for he sank much deeper in 

 the sand. Short as the space permitted me was, I took notice 

 of the nails of his shoes and any peculiarity on heels or soles ; 

 and, so true had Tramp been to the trail, that in one place he 

 had actually stepped into the footprint of the man. There was 

 the footprint of a second man, but that I did not much observe. 

 The ditch of the embankment was wet where Tramp jumped it, 

 and he checked on the other side ; but my eye caught sight of 

 the bottom of the ditch as I got over, and I saw that the water 

 was newly mudded. A little lower down the ditch was dry 

 again, and there were the small footsteps of my friend once 

 more ! Calling now in full confidence to Tramp, I set him 

 right, and he carried the scent some distance down the ditch, 

 and then away faster than ever in his long trot up the heathery 

 hill and into the high furze towards the village of Burley, 

 notorious for more than one bad character. Up the hill I 

 followed to where Tramp disappeared, but, before I got 

 there, Tramp returned as if seeking me, with great quickness in 

 his manner and anxiety that I should arrive ; he disappeared 

 for a moment again, and then, as I neared the spot, he came to 

 meet me, full of jumping joy and congratulation, and so he led 



