1§0 THE MASTER OF tHE H0UN±)9. 



Lord Malcolm and Fred Beaucliamp now straggled in, 

 having taken a wrong turn round the last covert ; and as this 

 Bmall party, with the hounds, returned to the verge of the hill 

 overlooldng the vale, other horsemen were seen still struggling 

 through the heavy fences, some at a slow canter, and • others 

 brought to a trot or walk ; and to put a stop to their further 

 exertions, Will Beaucliamp stood with the hounds a few 

 minutes on the summit, sending forth one loud "whohoop," 

 which might have been heard at Snowdon. 



" Demmit ! " exclaimed the Captain to Melville and Coventry, 

 who were all in turn playing at " catch my horse, can't you ? " 

 " That's Will's yell, for a thousand ! They have got him some- 

 where ; but, 'pon honour — eh ! aw ! Narcissus — demmit all — 

 he's buried in this infernal dyke — help, Melville, quickly, or 

 he'll be smothered ! " 



By the exertions of all three. Narcissus was at last dragged 

 out, more dead than alive, and lay at full length on the green- 

 sward, it appearing to be a matter of perfect indifference to him 

 whether he made any further effort to rise. 



" There, Markham," said Melville, " we cannot wait any 

 longer, so you and Narcissus must settle the point between you, 

 whether you sleep here or not ; my advice is to j)ut the whip 

 into him, and drive him on before you till you get into the 

 turnpike road, which is within half a mile of us." 



The Captain was not the only person employed in this 

 agreeable occupation of trudging along on foot with a beaten 

 horse, when Beauchamp and the pack, with the fortunate few 

 entered on the high road leading to Snowdon. 



" Ah, Markham," asked the master,. " what's the matter — 

 shoe lost ? " 



" Demmed near a horse lost, Beauchamp ; regularly done up 

 — worm crusher now — no Lifeguardsman — demmit ! sha'n't get 

 home for a week at this pace." 



" Here, then, Markham, let Jack have your horse to lead 

 into the town, and you shall ride his." 



" Thank'ee, Beauchamp, but I don't like taking away your 

 man." 



" Never mind, we don't want his services now, so get up at 

 once." 



Every stable ia Snowdon was occupied that night with 

 horses so thoroughly knocked up that they could proceed no 

 further, traps of all kinds being hired to convey their 

 ©wners home, whilst others remained there until the next 



