874 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



blowing and snorting, it was evident they had been 

 following the fox, and the pack could barely hold 

 the line through them, at a very slow pace. Head- 

 man did not consider it prudent, however, to make 

 a swinging cast forward, in the hope of bettering 

 his position; and well it proved that he let well 

 alone, for on jumping the fence into a green lane 

 near a cottage. Counsellor hit the scent off in a 

 contrary direction. 



'' Headed, squire,^^ he said, ^' by that man in the 

 garden ; and his dog looks as if he had been arter 

 our fox, for the hounds don't like it, and won't speak 

 to it, sir, although feeling they are upon it. A little 

 patience, and we shall be right again, but he has 

 now given up his point forward ; of that there can't 

 be much doubt." 



And so it turned out. The fox now made a wide 

 circuit over the vale, and the pace improved as the 

 pack gained upon their game. Again the dreaded 

 river appeared with its meandering course to resist 

 their progress ; but, fortunately, this time a bridge 

 saved them another cold bath. 



" Now I knows all about it, squire," exclaimed 

 Headman ; " he is running straight for Sandiway 

 Park Coppice, and the earths were put to this 

 morning ; so we shall handle him yet." 



Cold water tells upon a fox as well as a hot sun. 

 By the time he had gained the wood his strength 

 was nearly exhausted. In vain he tried every earth 

 — all were fatally closed upon him ; and whilst thus 

 lingering, the hounds came tearing np through the 

 underwood. 



