A BUSINESS DAY AT CIIEE-HA. 195 



neck impatiently beyond the railing to observe the 

 course of some thin strata of clouds that moved 

 slowly in the higher region of the atmosphere. 

 " There will be no wind so moist, too ; the scent 

 will lie famously." 



" Too true," said I, " but you know I come on 

 business ; c business before pleasure,' that's my 

 motto." 



" But will your business hold you all day ? 

 Could you not dispatch it, and after, take a hunt ?" 



"Possibly," said I. 



" Then I will call my boy," said Loveleap, and 

 seizing his horn, gave a loud blast which brought 

 not his boy only, but the whole eager pack of 

 expecting hounds upon us in a moment, wagging 

 their tails, whining with anticipated pleasure and 

 casting their noses up into the air, as if they already 

 caught the scent of the out-lying deer ! The appeal 

 was irresistible. 



" Tempt me no more, Loveleap ; I will swallow a 

 hasty breakfast, and gallop over to my plantation. 

 Give me three hours for business the rest of the 

 day shall be yours !" 



The breakfast is ended, the horse mounted. "In 

 three hours I shall expect you," said I at parting, 

 and away I go at a hand gallop. The road lay 

 through my corn fields ; but the grain had been 



