348 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



in command passed his master, "you've got a 

 tlioroughbred under you as well as A¥ill Head- 

 man.'^ 



" I slian^t forget it, sir /' touching his cap. 



The master would have been perfectly justified, 

 under such audacious behaviour from his field, in 

 sending Jem to stop the single hound, and go direct 

 away with the body of the pack after the fox they 

 were hunting, and which had just broken covert in 

 the opposite direction — in fact, such is the rule to 

 be followed in such cases. The old master knew all 

 about that, and might have had a good run to him- 

 self; but, to use a vulgar expression, "his monkey 

 was up,'^ and he resolved to beat the fast men with 

 their own weapons just for once, and to prove to 

 them that hounds could beat horses. 



"Come along, Jem,^' said Headman, "put them 

 on : the squire wills it. What^s missing V^ 



" Hecuba and Hotspur, master ; and those two 

 young devils won't lose sight of the brush till they 

 get hold on it." 



"They can't hunt, Jem, and shouldn't if they 

 would ; so there is nothing for it but to get 'em clear 

 out of the crowd, and then we shall see who can 

 catch 'em again." 



It was contrary to Will Headman's principle and 

 practice to act as he was obliged to upon such an 

 emergency; but he was too good a soldier to disobey 

 orders from his commander-in-chief, knowing well 

 what his intention was. Mounted on two thorough- 

 bred horses, more notorious for their staying than 

 fleeting properties, Will Headman and Jem drew 



