The Consultation of War 297 



" It would serve some of those jealous riders right if they 

 had to go slow for once," comments the Master ; " only 

 they would kill their poor horses." 



" How about the ridge road at Fur Forks ? " asks the 

 huntsman, now coming forward with his own plans. " Old 

 Simpson " — our old friend the earth-stopper — " says there 

 are two litters of foxes up there, and the farmers are 

 anxious for you to give them a dusting." 



" That 's a fact," agrees the Master. " We ought to go 

 there. Mrs. Jenks wrote me yesterday that she had lost 

 some of her chickens. They were struck by lightning, 

 most likely. Foxes don't kill chickens, you know ; at 

 least, not in their own neighbourhood." 



" The going will be good up there on the high ground," 

 suggests the huntsman, who probably has seen the farmer 

 and knows that the litter has been carefully preserved for 

 the hunting season. 



" That 's a fact," says the Master. " The trouble is, Mrs. 

 Whirler is coming out to-morrow with a four-in-hand and 

 a party of friends. She and a dozen more have written to 

 say they are bringing friends, and hope they will be able to 

 see some of the run from the highway. The ridge is alto- 

 gether too rough for four-in-hands, or for any other kind 

 of driving, for that matter." 



So every covert for three miles about the place of meet- 

 ing is gone over, pros and cons carefully compared. Finally 

 it is decided to draw the Benson Wood, and, failing that, 

 the Peler ravine. By this time, thinks the Master, the 

 coaches will have turned back, and, if there is still time, 

 the hounds may be taken to the ridge road. 



