330 SYSTEM OF KEXNEL AND 



although all cluster together^ and press on in close 

 column, the lead being conceded to the veterans, 

 whom experience has taught how to make the best 

 of a bad scent. Still they are moving — the blade of 

 grass does not grow under their feet, when they 

 meet with it in old ley or this year's seeds. O^er 

 fallows — no tongue is heard ; and yet, with old 

 Saracen at head, the pace, such as it is, does not 

 slacken. He knows and feels the line of the fox, 

 and without saying a word about it presses resolutely 

 forward, until he strikes the mouse in the hedgerow 

 through which his game had passed ; then, with one 

 note only, gathering all to the front, he springs the 

 fence, and through the next field of turnips the 

 chorus swells and the pace increases. 



" Ah ! fallows again," exclaimed Will Headman, 

 in disgust. '^Summer fallowing is of some use; 

 winter fallowing is of none, that I can see, except to 

 stop hounds. At this rate he'll beat us blind ; yet 

 there's no saying — a bit of luck, perhaps; and here 

 it is, out of fallow into the road, which means out 

 of the frying-pan into the fire. Confound him ! 

 he's an artful dodger ; but I've taken his measure 

 once, if not twice, before this morning. There — 

 they must work it out as long as they can, and 

 when they can't I must help 'em." 



Headman was holding his hounds quietly forward 

 down the road, when overtaken by Mr. Staveley, who 

 asked abruptly, "Where now. Will? He seems 

 bent on mischief, but I don't quite understand the 

 point he is making for." 



" There is an old stone quarry, Squire, some ten 



