LETTER XXIX. 327 



about ?" ** Fox just crossed over the ride, Sir, where 

 you are standing." The hounds were on the spot, but 

 they would not own the scent ; the old ones looked up 

 instead of putting their noses down. " Very odd," said 

 the man, " the hounds won't hunt the fox, when I seed 

 him only a few minutes ago in that very place." " My 

 hounds," I replied " tell me that the fox you just now 

 saw came out of your pocket, or a bag which is now hid 

 under a stoul in that high wood, and I believe them ; no 

 tricks upon travellers will do with us." 



The man bundled off as soon as he could. The fox 

 was again halloaed over another drive, where several 

 horsemen were stationed with the master of the coverts 

 himself; still the hounds would not settle to the scent, 

 I at once blew my horn, and took the hounds away. An 

 old sportsman rode directly up, and asked what I was 

 going to do, " Do," I replied, " my hounds don't hunt 

 bagmen. I shall draw elsewhere for a wild fox." This 

 announcement created, as may be supposed, quite a 

 sensation ; but turning a deaf ear to remonstrances and 

 entreaties alike, I left the coverts directly. I, of course, 

 got a tolerable sprinkling of abuse, which I cared about 

 as little for as a duck for cold water. But I had one good 

 staunch fox-hunting friend, who took my part behind 

 my back. He said aloud for all to hear, " He is quite 

 right ; I applaud him for his firmness. It was an insult 

 to a master of foxhounds to turn a hagman down before 

 his hounds." I was never again treated to a bagman in 

 those coverts, but we always found ivild foxes there 

 afterwards — not a fox only. 



