182 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



and help the hounds to a fox, somehow or other, when 

 he had tried his hand long enough. We kept badgering 

 about this big wood for nearly two hours. The hounds 

 beginning to flag, Mr. Slowman's confidence was nearly 

 oozing out, and his voice becoming exceedingly croaky 

 and ominous of what was to happen ; the horn put into 

 requisition pretty often to keep the hounds together, but 

 there was no energy in the huntsman, and no activity in 

 his men ; they all appeared thinking more of their dinner 

 than the fox. 



A good pack of hounds, out of blood, will and may do 

 all the first part of their business, to outward appear- 

 ances, perfectly. They may draw well and steadily, find 

 their fox handsomely, and run him for some time sharply ; 

 but a keen observer will soon detect a want of ardour and 

 resolution, which gradually increases, until their hunting 

 amounts almost to indifiference. Such was the case now ; 

 they were beaten in spirits. Mr. Slowman passed me 

 occasionally, and the last time I remarked, "Your hounds 

 are nearly beaten." " Beaten, Sir ; no, not that ; they 

 will run till midnight, but the scent is getting very bad." 

 My host presented a very elongated visage, saying, 

 " This is always the way, we shall be here till dark." 

 " Not I, for one," I exclaimed, " for if you don't let me 

 and Jim knock over one of these dodging brutes of foxes, 

 and Mr. Slowman too, into the bargain, if he comes in 

 our way, I shall go home in half an hour." " Give him, 

 then, half an hour longer, and then I don't care ; pitch 

 into the lot, if you like. I will get out of the way of 

 the slow coaches, for I see there will be a row, and I 

 shall be lectured pretty well by our friend on the brown 

 horse." 



