SCIEXCE OF FOXHUNTING. 33 



enough for the other to hear, " Now, boys ! when 

 you reach the spot where the unfortunate captain 

 met his death last night, pull up. Do you hear ? " 

 as no answer was returned. 



''Yes, sir/' 



" Go on, then, and mind you don't stop before, 

 or,'' he said, showing his pistol, " this bull-dog '' — 

 a slang name for pistol in those days — " will bite 

 as well as bark.'' 



There was also a peculiar expression in Mr. 

 Elton's eyes, suggestive of great resolution, which 

 none could mistake, and the post-boy guessed the 

 real character of the gentleman sitting behind him, 

 with the window down, without daring to take a 

 second look at him. When reaching the place — a 

 lonely one, about two miles distant from the Three 

 Magpies — the postilions obeyed their orders by 

 pulling up. 



" Now," said Elton to the man nearest to him, 

 " whistle ! — louder ! — that's too low." A strono^er 

 note followed ; again and again it was repeated. 



" Shout 1 " cried Elton. This was obeyed, and 

 the echoes joined with the moaning winds. For some 

 ten minutes they remained stationary on the spot, 

 when Mr. Elton, placing his pistol on the window- 

 sill, with the muzzle just opposite the postilion's 

 back, said, " Go on now, as fast as you can ; and 

 mind, the very instant you stop again, for anybody 

 or anything, save a turnpike-gate, before reaching 

 London, this bullet goes through your heart." 



I have heard my father declare that he had 



D 



