184 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



bour ; " variety is rather charming upon such an occa- 

 sion, and charming music they are making just now." 

 Old Slovvman looked as black as thunder, and said, 

 *' 'Twas not fair play." " Fair or foul," I said, ** I don't 

 care ; for I have your master's permission, and the hounds 

 shall have a fox to-day, or I am out of my reckoning." 



"What to do he did not know^ ; if he went home he 

 would have the laugh against him, and he knew he was 

 no favourite with his present master. He tried to get 

 the hounds away to another fox, but Jim and I stuck so 

 close to them, that he could not do it. The under-whip, 

 who had come from a fast country, and disliked Mr. 

 Slowman, readily joined in the fray. " That's right, 

 Jack," I said, " you'll make a huntsman another day." 

 The fox, not relishing the new state of things, tried the 

 outskirts of the covert, and in a few minutes broke away 

 over a piece of old pasture, with the vale below us, and 

 some water meadows. One short and sharp scream 

 brought them all out, Jim and Jack too. " Where's his 

 point now. Jack ?" " Over the water, Sir, I think, to 

 those woods on the opposite side." " He can't do it," I 

 said, " and save his brush." ** He'll try for it, Sir," was 

 Jack's reply, " as there is a head of earths there, and 

 they are open, ivorse luck,'" '' Then be off. Jack, like a 

 shot, to the earths ; cram the spurs in, and go straight as 

 a bird — never mind a cold bath." " Never fear. Sir, I'll 

 do it, and be there before him." " Now, Jim, keep 

 where you are, this side on the hill ; ride opposite to us, 

 and mind he don't get back into that thundering big wood 

 again, for I suspect he will turn yet." 



These orders were given in much less time than I am 

 writing them ; and away I went, with two young dashing 



