152 THE HAUGHTY SHIRE HUNT. 



l^ermit, with the twofold object of offering a hand, if 

 wanted, to Tom Tribe, and of trying to see something of the 

 finish of the rmi himself. 



The Whip, however, was ' right-side-iip ' by the time that 

 Eonald, panting somewhat from the unaccustomed pedestrian 

 exercise, got to him. Tom clambered again into his mud- 

 stained saddle, but the horse was so done, that he absolutely 

 refused to go out of a shambling trot. Eonald actually 

 travelled faster on foot. 



Two fields more, and then with a wild ' Whoo — hoop ! ' 

 Will is off his horse, and busy amongst the pack. Hounds 

 are rolling over each other, snapping and snarling at that 

 poor little bedraggled bit of reddish fur in the middle of 

 them, which is all that now remains of one of the gamest 

 foxes that ever stood for nearly three hours before so good 

 a pack. Eonald is overjoyed that he is just in time to see 

 them break him up. Will had got his brush, which he 

 presented to Eonald. Eonald had a little gold token in his 

 pocket, which he presented to Will. 



" One of the best, sir," exclaimed Will enthusiastically. 

 The remark might have applied either to the fox or the coin. 

 We think he meant the former. 



Every one of the four human faces there glowed with 

 delight. It was a red-letter day, indeed. Being over twenty 

 miles from the Kennels was certainly ' against it,' and the 

 pleasure of that ride would hardly be enhanced by the steady, 

 drizzling rain now beginning to fall ; but these are common 

 incidents in the glorious chase of the fox, and the quartett 

 with w'hom we are now dealing were pretty well accustomed 

 to such luxuries. Wherefore, with coat-collars turned up. 



