104 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



were scattered to the winds, and Jem and I had it all to 

 ourselves. Expecting a serious affair, we held steadily on 

 with the hounds, agreeing to help each other out of dif- 

 ficulties, Jem keeping just a respectable distance behind 

 me, with no disposition to play first fiddle to this queer- 

 looking dancer ; and I felt quite sure he would not desert 

 me if I got into trouble. Another twenty minutes or so 

 (for we had no time to look at our watches) and we came 

 to a few small coverts, where, our fox taking a turn or 

 two, we had just time to breathe our horses, and one or 

 two hard riders came up as well. One, a staunch friend 

 to hovmds, and a general favourite with all the neigh- 

 bouring packs, now became of great service to me from 

 his knowledge of the country we had run into. " Well, 

 squire," he exclaimed, " this bob-tailed son of a gun has 

 led us a proper dance, and I thought I should never get 

 up with you again. Where have you been ?" " That is 

 more than I can tell you," I replied, ** but had he gone 

 straight on, instead of bearing away to the right into 

 these woods, the chances would have been against your 

 asking me this question just yet." The hounds were now 

 away again. *' Oh ! he is a thrusting scoundrel," exclaimed 

 my friend Bob ; " he's got some go in him 3-et, and I 

 have an idea it will be a moonlight affair." " Nonsense," 

 I said, " he can't stand another forty minutes, after the 

 pace we have been going. Now, Bob, lend a hand, for 

 Jem's half afraid of him, and Tom is lost ; we will try to 

 handle him before two o'clock, unless I am out of my 

 reckoning altogether." We had now a fine fox-hunting 

 country before us, with large enclosures, but sadly in 

 want of drainage ; the scent became merely a holding 

 one, which we were not sorry for. The fox, in Bob's 



