MISS BADSWORTH, M.F.H. 227 



knew well enough that it was his duty to stop this lot if 

 the body of the pack was running elsewhere. Just at that 

 moment Captain Majendie came out of the covert with 

 two or three more horsemen. 



" Better get on, Bill," he shouted. " I expect Miss Bads- 

 worth will be here directly ; there are people coming away 

 down below — look !" 



So Bill and Captain Majendie and three or four more set 

 to work to ride after the fast disappearing hounds. It was 

 quite true that others wide on the left were doing the same, 

 and for over a quarter of an hour there was one of those ex- 

 hilarating spins which fills hearts with contentment. Close 

 beside some farm buildings hounds were at fault. Bill looked 

 back, there was no sign of Miss Lavvy or the rest of the 

 pack. 



** I'd better stop them, I think," he said dubiously. 



" Nonsense, put them to me. I'll cast them round the 

 farm-house and soon put them right," Majendie said, and he 

 started to carry out his plan. But that was all. A fence 

 crashed hard by, and a voice exclaimed in stentorian tones : — 



" Who the devil are you, sir ? Leave those hounds alone 

 and mind your own business or go home." Then to Bill, 

 whose conscience was smiting him : " Can't you see the 

 body of the pack are running elsewhere ? If you know your 

 business, why the deuce don't you do it ? Get them back as 

 fast as you can." 



" Lord," said the owner of the farm, who was leaning 

 over a neighbouring gate, ** it's just as though the old 

 Squire was rose from the dead." 



Charles Badsworth and Bill got back toward Hoxton 

 Wood as fast as horses could carry them ; and Bill confided 

 later to Ned Barlow, " He never saw a man of the weight 

 go no straighter ". . 



Captain Majendie, both angry and crestfallen, returned by 

 a more devious route, cherishing a hope that before long he 

 would turn the tables. 



15* 



