14 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



and Black Bog. Every now and again the old hunter 

 would wind a loud call on his horn while passing some 

 cottage or small farm on the road, and at the sound a 

 fresh addition to the trencher-fed pack would be seen 

 making its way across country towards the slashing green 

 coat. 



So staunch were the hounds that day, and so fast the 

 runs, that the Squire's initiation to beagling was attended 

 with but little success in the way of his gaining a know- 

 ledge of the craft of venery. But, upon taking leave of 

 Denis and his companions, to ride back to the Hall, he 

 expressed his warm appreciation of the sport they had 

 shown him, and as a token of the same he handed Denis 

 the wherewithal for him and the rest of the followers of 

 the Bally hilly beagles to " christen " the green coat. 

 Right well did the jolly beaglers keep up the " christen- 

 ing." 



The bells of the picturesque old parish church of 

 Bally hilly were calling the good folk to their morning 

 devotions when Denis, in company with a few other 

 members of the hunt, and followed by several couples 

 of jaded-looking hounds, made his way up the village 

 street. The worthy huntsman's coat had lost much of 

 its pristine splendour, and in spite of the fact that he had 

 pulled the peak of his somewhat rusty velvet cap well 

 over the left eye, he was unable to hide the dark halo 

 which encircled that organ of sight. In short, Denis and 

 his friends had made a night of it, while their good dames 

 at home nursed their wrath, and on the arrival of their 



