A SALUTAKY LECTURE. 187 



waited anbil he was surrounded by the greater portion of his 

 followers. 



" Now, gentlemen," exclaimed Beauchamp, addressing them 

 in a loud voice, " as it is very evident that there are several 

 persons out to-day who consider themselves more competent to 

 hunt the hounds than myself, I shall be obliged by your inform- 

 ing me who is to be huntsman, that I may at once resign the 

 horn to that individual, it being necessary, to prevent further 

 confusion, that one man alone should act in that cajDacity." 



The would-be huntsmen looked extremely foolish at this 

 address ; but no answer being returned, Beauchamp sat quietly 

 on his horse, as if awaiting their reply. 



" Come, come, Beauchamp," cried Sir Lucius, " don't mind 

 those confounded fools' hallooing ; but let us have a run this 

 cold, shivery day." 



" As you please, Gwynne ; but I wish it to be clearly under- 

 stood that, if I am to be huntsman, the first halloa I hear shall 

 be the last this day, for I will immediately take the hounds 

 home, which are already spoilt so much by this babel of tongues, 

 that they won't even try to hunt a fox." 



" Quite right," exclaimed Conyers and Coventry ; " it is the 

 only thing you can do to stop all this riot." 



" Very well, gentlemen," said Beauchamp, " as you now know 

 the terms, I will also try to get on terms again with my fox ; 

 and, Charles, I will thank you to bear in mind that you are 

 now whipper-in." 



"Yes, sir," said Charley, touching his cap very submis- 

 sively. 



"Ah, Mr. Conyers," exclaimed Farmer Stiles, "that's just 

 what they all wanted, a bit of a lecture from the young squire; 

 things will go on comfortable again after this." 



On holding the hounds round the lower side of the covert, 

 they struck upon the line of a fox which had gone away some 

 ten or twelve minutes in the direction of Hazel Wood, about 

 four miles distant, which Beauchamp, to punish his field as well 

 as sober his hounds, made them hunt inch by inch ; this pro- 

 duced the desired effect, as both men and hounds perceived 

 their huntsman's determination to admit of no interference. 



The fox, never having been pressed, jogged leisurely along 

 the pack improving in their pace until they reached Hazel 

 Wood, where he had lingered for some time, enabling the 

 hounds to get on better terms, when he broke, going straight 

 for the forest six miles a-head. 



