330 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



notwithstanding the exertions of a self-styled captain, 

 who considered himself the leader of the concern. The 

 straight course pursued by the animal before them, soon 

 led him to surmise there was something more than a 

 jack hare before the hounds, which opinion he openly 

 expressed. " Oh, very likely," said the captain. Per- 

 haps it is a fox — there are some wild outlying ones in 

 these parts." " And," rejoined the old fox-hunter, " I 

 have a notion there are a few bagmen as well ; and that 

 this is one I have very little doubt." " We don't do 

 those things, I assure you," said the other. " Then your 

 neighbours belie you ; but we shall soon see." 



In about fifty minutes the fox was run into and killed, 

 when our old fox-hunter jumped off his horse, and ap- 

 propriated the brush to himself, which having carefully 

 examined, he held in his hand, until all the field came 

 up. Last of all, the worthy master made his appear- 

 ance, puffing and blowing like a grampus. " Well, 

 gentlemen," he said, " we have had a capital run ; but 

 who would have thought of finding a fox in that little 

 place?" "Not you, I'll be sworn," exclaimed the old 

 fox-hunter, with a sly look, "if you had not put him 

 there first." ** I put him there. Sir ? I know nothing 

 about him." " Well, then, you persist in saying that this 

 is a wild fox, do you ?" " In course I do," replied the 

 master, **Then I'll prove that to be false, any way," 

 said the old fox-hunter ; " here is the proof" — so blow- 

 ing back the fur on the brush, he drew forth certain bits 

 of oat chaff, which had worked their way down to and 

 adhered to the dock — these he displayed to the discom- 

 fitted professor and his wondering field. There were 

 no more assertions made in contradiction to this damn- 



