252 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



the first fox he views, and bring the hounds into more 

 difficulties than he has the sense to get them out of. 



There have been times when I have been almost de- 

 ceived myself in the appearance of the hunted fox, in 

 dry weather particularly ; and his last efforts to escape 

 are sometimes astonishing. 1 remember once, after a 

 severe chase, running a fox into a gentleman's kitchen 

 garden, the wall of which was about ten feet high. Over 

 this he went, apparently as fresh as when he was first 

 found ; but he made no further efforts, and lay down 

 among some cabbages until the hounds picked him up. 

 Another ran to the top of a house, and remained on the 

 roof till the hounds made their appearance in the yard 

 below. He then made a spring at the chimney stack, 

 which he succeeded in gaining, and bolted down the flue. 

 The house was three stories high, which he ascended by 

 first jumping on to some buildings adjoining. It was 

 occupied by two maiden ladies, who were sitting in the 

 room, into which Mr. Reynolds made his entree down 

 the chimney, covered with soot. The consternation of 

 the ladies may be easier imagined than described. The 

 screams they uttered at the unexpected visit of such an 

 intruder, begrimed with soot as he was, and from such a 

 quarter, scared the fox so much, that, after taking a turn 

 round the room, he bolted again up the flue — the^ ladies 

 in their terror flying through the door at the same time, 

 and screaming for assistance. In a moment the whole 

 house was in an uproar, and the first flight of riders 

 coming up, soon added to the confusion. 



One more zealous than the rest, a hard rider, as well 

 as a very handsome fellow — who went by the name of 

 " Handsome Jack" — gained admittance at the front door. 



