190 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



and after a high park wall, built of bricks. The ground 

 being lowest on the wood side, it was difficult — almost 

 impossible — for any hounds to jump it. There were 

 large hare holes at certain distances, wide enough for a 

 fox to pass through, but not a hound. One of Mr. 

 Slowman's favourites had taken up his abode in this 

 pretty spot, and, being a very artful dodger, was selected 

 as certain to baffle us upon this occasion. Jim and Jack 

 had now become great friends, after our last day's per- 

 formance, and we had, therefore, full information as to 

 the measures of Mr. Wiley, of Burton Park, and we took 

 our precautions accordingly. This crafty old gentleman 

 always lay close under the wall, and, upon being found, 

 immediately bolted through one of the hare holes, across 

 the road, and away to some other small coverts, while 

 the hounds were fruitlessly attempting to jump the wall. 

 Mr. Slowman, I found, had been bothered repeatedly 

 in this manner, and instead of putting some of the hounds 

 over the wall at once, had the pack whipped after him 

 to the nearest lodge gate, by which time his friend Wiley 

 had gone a couple of miles, at least, and, after making a 

 circuit round the country, he always came back through 

 the lower part of the park, and through the hare holes 

 again, where a similar scene was enacted. If not beaten 

 at this game, it was very evident to me that he would 

 serve us the same trick he had so often palmed upon Mr. 

 Slowman with success. Running this over in my mind, 

 I at length decided upon a course which I thought would 

 put me upon a par with Mr. Wiley, and Jim was accord- 

 ingly made acquainted with my plans. This was ar- 

 ranged in our way to the place of meeting in the morning, 

 Ned, the under-whip, also receiving his instructions. 



