CAPTAIN SHABBVHOUXDE 283 



" Well, but what am I to do ? " asked Mr. Milksop, 

 seeing the hounds were about to leave the meet, " I 

 was going to ride him, you know," added he. 



'' I intend you to ride Apollo," said Strutt, with his 

 usual consequence, " he's all ready — here, Tom I " 

 exclaimed he, '' bring out the orse ! " 



When the hounds were drawing Birdingbury 

 Faggot Cover, who should appear but Captain 

 Shabbyhounde, and with his appearance returned the 

 recollection of the over-night letter. Shabbyhounde's 

 quick eye saw at once it was a " case,'" but Milksop's 

 countenance, as he hurried up, had more the 

 appearance of a man wanting information, than the 

 lowering sulky scowl of one who has been ^'' doneP 

 The Captain was a second Lavater in physiognomy. 



"Tell me," said Mr. Milksop, in the hurried way 

 men speak on the eve of battles and fox-hunts, " Tell 

 me," repeated he, " is that horse of yours vicious ? " 



^^ Not the least '^^ exclaimed Shabbyhounde, with 

 emphasis, squeezing Milksop's proffered hand. 



" Tallvho ! gone away ! hark, halloo I hark ! 

 hoop ! hoop ! crack ! crack ! crack ! hold hard ! go 

 on 1 Now, sir I Do go on or get out of my way 1 

 I'll ride you over ! " 



Away for the Shuckborough hills, and Merston 

 Priors, and across to Ladbrooke Gorse, where the 

 hounds killed their fox, or another, which did quite 

 as well, ere our friends had time to finish their 

 confab. Once indeed 



"They met, 'twas in a crowd," 



the majority of whom were craning at a wide 

 brook, and as Shabbyhounde and Milksop beat 

 simultaneously on the opposite bank, the former 

 flourishing his whip, exclaimed in joyous exultation at 

 the feat, " Not a sweeter tempered horse in the world, 

 by God ! " but a paralyzing bullfinch immediately 



