THE WILLEY LONG EIJNS. 99 



an after-dinner run. They dined early, and, as 

 nigh as I can tell, it was three o'clock when they 

 left the Hall, after the Beggarlybrook fox. Mind 

 that was a fox, that was — ^he was. He was a dark 

 brown one, and a cunning beggar too, that always 

 got off at the edge of a wood, by running first along 

 a wall and then leaping part of the way down an 

 old coal pit, which had run in at the sides. Well, 

 they placed three couples of hounds near to this 

 place in readiness, and the hark-in having been 

 given, the gorse soon began to shake, and a hound 

 or two were seen outside, and amongst them old 

 Pilot, who now and then took a turn outside, and 

 turned in, lashing his stern, and giving the right 

 token. ' Have at him! ' shouted one ; ' Get ready ! ' 

 said another ; ' Hold hard a bit, we shall have him, 

 for a hundred ! ' shouted the Squire. Then comes 

 a tally-ho, said my father, and off they go ; every 

 hound out of cover, sterns up, carrying a beautiful 

 head, and horses all in a straight line along the 

 open, with the scent breast high. Eeynard making 

 straight for the tongue of the coppice, finds himself 

 circumvented, and fresh hounds being let loose, he 

 makes for Wenlock Walton as though he was going 

 to give 'em an airing on the hill-top. 



