264 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



Trying again, his stick was caught by two others. "Just 

 as I thought," exclaimed Jim. '* Pretty care they were 

 going to take of our fox ; but now I'll play keeper and 

 catch one or two of these vagabonds, or my name ain't 

 Jim." He accordingly hid himself in some bushes in the 

 pit close to the earth, and there lay down until about ten 

 o'clock, when he heard footsteps approaching. Two men 

 came down to look at the earth, nearly touching Jim as 

 they passed. Seeing nothing unusual there one of them 

 exclaimed, " Come away, he is not caught yet." " But 

 you are," said Jim, jumping quickly upon his legs and 

 collaring the keeper. " Let go," cried the man, " or it 

 shall be the worse for you." " Not a bit of it," said Jim ; 

 " I can thrash two such fellows as you any day in the 

 week. I am just in the humour for it now, and if I don't 

 serve you out as bad as you meant to serve our old fox, 

 my name is not Jim. So no nonsense — you two shall go 

 before your master this very night, or one of you I'll 

 carry there, that's all." 



Jim being a tall powerful fellow, and a pretty good 

 hand at most games, that of fives not excepted, the 

 keepers were obliged to submit, and they all marched off 

 together for the mansion, Jim shouldering the steel traps, 

 which he told me afterwards he longed to give the head 

 keeper a taste of about his head and ears. The^ master 

 having told him upon more than one occasion that he 

 should never be refused admittance if he was at home, 

 Jim walked up to the front door, with a knock and ring, 

 as if some gentleman had arrived. He knew it would be 

 of no avail going to the back. The footman soon made 

 his appearance, and was not a little surprised when he 

 beheld Jim there. " Is your master at home ?" coolly 



