XXIX 

 THE GAME ITSELF 



BREAKING COVERT FULL CRY THE CHECK THE RIDERS 



THE DEATH 



HE huntsman, without a moment's delay, 

 casts the hounds into the covert with a cheer. 

 The whipper-in goes over the fence beside 

 them, and the huntsman follows, whereupon 

 all the riders halt or begin to move to the south, the east, 

 or the northeast corner of the covert, according to their 

 several judgments of the way the fox is likely to break, or 

 their knowledge of the country. The thong of the 

 whipper-in keeps up a lively cracking to prevent hounds 

 from spreading too wide. The huntsman is cheering on 

 the pack, encouraging it to draw. 



" Edawick ! Edawick ! Edawick ! Oust him ! Away 

 with him ! Rouse him ! Rouse him, my beauties ! " 



How the hounds fling and drive, now halting in a cluster 

 with noses down and sterns waving, now scattering, now 

 on again, making good every yard of the way! Your 

 blood cannot help but tingle. Cigars and cigarettes are 

 thrown away. Another hasty glance at curb-chain and throat- 



327 



