LETTER X. 105 



opinion, was now making his point for a large covert, in 

 which he thought we should change. Fortunately there 

 were no earths there ; T therefore despatched Jem to get 

 forward to the other side of this wood as fast as he could, 

 and my friend Bob kindly undertook his place. '*Now," 

 1 said, " we shall be all right if he will only wait a bit, 

 when he reaches Rushmead." Fortunately for us he did 

 so ; the hounds soon got upon good terms with him again 

 in the covert, and made the wood crash as they rattled 

 him round and round. Bobtail was, however, game to 

 the last, and he tried to break away twice where Bob and 

 I had stationed ourselves, in the direction of a long string 

 of woodlands, which it was my determination, if possible, 

 to prevent him reaching, as we were sure to change 

 there, and the coverts extended nearly three miles in 

 continuation. Knowing his intention, T posted Bob out 

 of sight under the hedge, with directions to let him get 

 clear of the wood one entire field, and then to halloo and 

 ride like mad. I then joined the hounds in covert, and 

 Bobtail, finding the course clear, broke away ; we were 

 not far behind him, and Bob played his part to perfec- 

 tion. Before the fox had crossed the first field. Bob was 

 after him from his hiding-place, hallooing like fun. The 

 artful dodger stopped and hesitated one moment whether 

 to return or go on : that moment of hesitation sealed his 

 fate. The hounds were coming tearing out of covert, 

 and, hearing Bob's hullaballoo, caught sight of the poor 

 chicken-killer, and had him down before he could again 

 reach the wood hedge. I did not tell Bob this was 

 just the trap I had laid for him, as we were a very long 

 distance from home, and my horse had had quite enough 

 of it. All stratagems are fair in war, and Beckford says, 

 " a fair foxhunter and a fool are synonymous terms." 



