528 



FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



more, 'twould have been Harold's fault only. But they had 

 pulled up at a drain ; and the few people who were with them 

 had the satisfaction of watching the stragglers making their 

 way downward. The green slope was greasy with frost : and a 



mild hedge or two was unavoidable. But all the fire had died 

 out of their hearts after Harold's disaster, and they crawled 

 down the hillside in the dilatory unwilling fashion observable in 

 connection with the first early fences of a young season. 



In the brightest sunshine but chilliest wind hounds worked 

 on over another valley, and the little brook, to Newnham 

 Clump. How very small that streamlet is and yet how 

 viciously did half a dozen credited hunters decline it ! They 

 \vould not have it even at a stand, the hardness of the ground 

 perhaps combining with the long delay of hounds upon the 

 brink to institute, or to accentuate, their evil-minded aversion. 

 With no thought of profanity, I ask, can you not at such times 

 understand, and repeat heartily, Balaam's longing for a sword ? 

 And a six feet brook the only lion in the path ! Maddening. 



