Fox-nrxTixa ix VIK<;IXIA. 543 



couple of blue-mottled hounds of the Crawford strain, and 

 we knew that the Fox was coining back to the road. He 

 would surely cross it near our position, and break away to 

 Broad Run, over ground favorable to him, and returning 

 by the Old Ridge route to Goose Creek, would now give us 

 a tedious run of an hour or more, with many losses by the 

 hounds, and we should have to make the finish going up 

 the creek-bottom again. 



Horsemen could not follow closely over this course. 

 Therefore, guided by my father, who knew every foot of 

 the ground, we kept as well in hearing as we might, and 

 saved our horses as we could, for the final conclusion 

 going up the creek bottom. Over this part of the course, 

 we however had full enjoyment of the bracing air of the 

 glorious autumn day and the superb melody of the hounds; 

 now near, now far, echoing and reechoing among the rocky 

 glens, and through the dim aisles of the weird old forest, 

 for many a mile. 



So at length we rode out into an open field on the sum- 

 mit of the Old Ridge, half a mile from the creek, at a place 

 known as Powers' Hill, whence is a prospect hardly sur- 

 passed by any inland scene within my knowledge. Here 

 we sat upon our horses, enjoying the magnificent prospect, 

 listening to the distant pack, whose course my father knew 

 as well as if the running had been in full view all the way. 



" Where will we get in the race again, 'Squire?" asked 

 Mr. Macamblin. 



" Right here, sir," said my father. 



"Yes,"' said Mr. Jenkins; "and we shall not be waiting 

 ten minutes." 



"They are crossing Moran's Bottom now," said Mr. 

 Swartz, one of our party, distinguished as one of the finest 

 riders in the State. 



"Yes," said my father; "and the cry is very keen. I 

 know they are pressing him hard; we will see the position 

 of things as they pass here. I think he will die near the 

 starting-point; he will never go to earth, and he can't live 

 it out before that pack to-day." 



