SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 347 



"Aye, have at him, my lads, push him out;" and 

 push him out they did, as the fox, fiuding himself 

 surrounded by his enemies, leaped out from among 

 them, and actually ran along upon the top of the 

 thick gorse for some few yards. 



" Now, gentlemen/' cried the master, riding up 

 to the dense column drawn together at the very 

 point he wished the fox to break, " let me entreat 

 you to wheel to the right or left, and leave this space 

 open. It is your concern more than mine, if you 

 wish to see a run, for I don't care much about it ; 

 spoil your own sport, if you like, my riding days are 

 past ; and if he is chopped in covert so much the 

 pleasanter for me." 



The old squire's reproof produced a certain effect. 

 The ground was vacated immediately, and no sooner 

 left open than the fox broke away over it. Then 

 arose a Babel of tongues, screeching and screaming, 

 and the column of horsemen rushed rapidly to the 

 fore, in pursuit of the flying animal and a single 

 hound, ere the pack had left the covert. 



" Hold hard, gentlemen !" cried the excited master ; 

 "for goodness sake, hold hard one minute !" On 

 they go stilL " Then go, and be d — d !" he mut- 

 tered ; " they shall beat you yet." And with a shrill 

 scream from the old squire, the hounds were hustled 

 off by Jem from the line of another fox they were 

 hunting in a contrary direction. 



"Now, Will," as they caught the scent, and 

 flashed rapidly away upon it, " these pacemen shall 

 soon see the difference between ploughed land and 

 turf. Away, away ! and mind, Jem," as the second 



