242 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



SO there is, Sir, that's true enough ; there's a rabbit in 

 it.'V ** Well," I said, " how did he get there ?" ** Why, 

 in rather a curious way. I wur a sitting down under the 

 wood hedge, eating my bit of bread, when I hears a bit 

 of a rustling, and out comes Muster Bunny in a terrable 

 fluster, dash out into the field, and good cause he had to 

 be in a hurry, when who should be close arter him but 

 Mr. Stoat as brisk as a bee — who but he." ** Well," I 

 said, " what then ?" " Why, Sur, the rabbit takes out 

 straight ahead into the open field, but Mr. Stoat wur too 

 nimble for 'un, and cotched Mr. Bunny afore he could 

 reach t'other end — how hur did go — 'twere like a grey- 

 hound coursing a hare." " Well," I said, " why did you 

 not run up and kill the stoat as well ?" '* Wait a bit, 

 Sur," said the man, with a knowing look, " Mr. Stoat 

 don't do I any harm, but I'm a thinking he ain't the worst 

 friend I've got in the world by a good deal — this ain't the 

 first rabbit I have had by 'un, but I w^ur a little too quick 

 upon 'un t'other day." '* How so ?" " Why, I seed 'un 

 running down a rabbit as usual, when I runs up and 

 cries halves rather too quick like, for Mr. Stoat bolts ofi* 

 one way, and the rabbit t'other." 



This brings me back to the point from which I have 

 been as usual digressing, with my " Will Careless" sort 

 of rambling propensities, which, as Mr. De Yill^ said, 

 are strongly developed on my unfortunate cranium. 

 Now, then, for Mr. Wiley's moonlight excursions in 

 search of a supper. On one point I am tolerably well 

 convinced — that he does not kill his game by running or 

 hunting it down. Mr. Wiley takes things rather more 

 coolly, and in his proceedings exhibits unmistakeable 

 traits of the artful dodger. Silently and stealthily 



