LETTER XVII. 185 



farmers, who had joined us down the hill, close to the 

 hounds, who now. finding some turf under their feet, 

 streamed away like a flock of pigeons. " That will do, 

 my lads," I cried, in high excitement, " forward, away, 

 good bye to Slowman and Co." Turning to my com- 

 panions, I asked what sort of bottom there was in the 

 river below. ** You can't jump it, Sir," said one, ** and 

 it's deep ; but there is a ford about half a mile up, where 

 we cross over." " That won't suit me just now, my 

 friends ; where the hounds go I follow." " But you 

 won't swim that river, Sir ?" " Won't I, though ; come 

 and see." *' Well," he said, *' it is awkward work across 

 those water meadows to begin with, but, sink or swim, 

 you shan't go alone this time, for you are one of the right 

 sort, to my thinking." " Come along, then ;" and bang 

 we went over a bullfincher into the soft slush on the 

 other side. 



Scrambling through these peaty meadows, however, 

 was no joke, and our boots and buckskins were the 

 colour of Mr. Slowman's very soon. The river side was 

 nearly approached, when, in an osier bed on its banks, 

 the fox suddenly changed his mind, and, instead of taking 

 to the water, turned up the osier bed, and ran by its 

 side. ** I am not sorry for that move," said my compa- 

 nion ; "my teeth began to chatter at the very thought 

 of it." " Oh," I said, " a little washing would have made 

 us look like decent people again. Cold water don't 

 agree with me, but if we catch this old fox, the chances 

 are I shall treat myself to a little hot with, after dinner, 

 and," I added, *' you shall have his brush to stir your 

 bowl with." 



Fortunately for my friend the osier bed declined 



