FIRST BLOOD 47 



junction of a smaller stream with this one. A woman 

 and two girls were at the kitchen door gesticulating 

 excitedly. 



Billy popped over a fair-sized rail into a sheep- 

 yard, only to pop out again the same way, for the 

 other side was an impossible w^all — a most unnecessary 

 performance ; but he was always bold with a gallery. 



"Please don't scream, Missus," said Billy, as 

 hounds cast all round the outhouses, and the good 

 lady's apron waved, and her stout arm pointed. 



'^ The foax cam by the end o' the hen-hoose an' 

 gaed up the burn." 



*^ Thank you, Missus." 



" Pilgrim has it ; hark to Pilgrim ; huic together, 

 huic ! " as the old hound ran up the bed of the burn 

 baying like a bloodhound, the others hastening to 

 him. Up they hunted very prettily to a deep ravine, 

 above which they paused a minute on bare ground, 

 and struck off across the open moor again. They 

 were now running very fast, only a tail hound or two 

 speaking, the leading hounds almost silent, and one 

 or two drawing out from the others. 



" There he goes, the poor beggar, he's doomed." 



Walking up a bank sparsely covered with hazel- 

 nut bushes was our luckless cub — doubtless brother 

 to the one that met his fate earlier in the morning. 

 He lay down behind a bush, then made a spurt 

 to reach the stream again ; but Dexter and Regent 

 getting a view of him, raced up and turned him 

 to Warrior, Pilgrim, and Trojan, who simultaneously 

 grabbed him as he faced round at them with wide- 

 open jaws. 



'* Here's the brush of a good stout cub for you, 



