CHASING AND RACING 113 



But my foot was obstinately set one way, and I did 

 not mean to budge an inch. 



The others stood back as I entered the outer yard. 

 Then quietly I approached the sleeping quarters and 

 noiselessly lifting the latch slipped in. 



The moonlight fell aslant the flags ; all was still. 

 The pack, having finished their evensong, now lay 

 coiled up in peaceful slumber, huddled together for 

 warmth. 



For fully two minutes I stood there, stock still and 

 as silent as the grave, but my heart was rapping my 

 ribs uncomfortably. Then a single hound raised his 

 head. It was the surly and ferocious Landsman. 



Slowly he came to his feet, gazing intently at the 

 mysterious and silent figure before him. Then his 

 hackles began to rise " like quills upon the fretful 

 porcupine," but he uttered no sound. 



All of a sudden, Blossom, a bitch whose love for 

 me was as that of a Juliet for her Romeo, or a Francesca 

 for her Paolo, awakening from her dreams (maybe, of 

 straight-necked foxes, and the glorious odour of a 

 burning scent), sniffed the air, and then bounded to 

 me with joyful whines. In an instant the whole pack, 

 including the crusty Landsman, was in action, and so 

 to speak, all over me, lavishing their caresses un- 

 restrainedly. Then I sat on the bench, and when my 

 friends, with the wind well up, came rushing in by 

 reason of the rumpus, I had one arm around the 



grumpy old Landsman's neck and the other around 



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