88 HOUND AND HORN 



guid day," and the sequel will show that the oracular 

 utterance had in it the spirit of prophecy. 



I had been taking my own way with Batters on 

 several points lately, so gave in to him when, on 

 nearing the place of meeting, he suggested a well- 

 known bridle-path as a short cut, saving a mile. It 

 was only across some four or five large open fields, 

 then down alongside a small clump of plantation ; so 

 as we were ten minutes behind time, we followed 

 it. A hare got up under our noses and lobbed 

 slowly along into the above-mentioned clump, and 

 though the two terriers cocked their ears and made 

 a dart out, hounds never looked at her, and were 

 as steady as the proverbial rock, and I dreamt no 

 evil. There was a hunting gate close to the corner 

 of the plantation, and the catch-chain was low, 

 necessitating bending well over to reach down to 

 it. I was fumbling with it when, my back being 

 turned to the pack, first the terriers, then one or 

 two young hounds leapt over the wall, and mistaking 

 old Batters' hoarse rate for a cheer of encouragement, 

 one or two more, till, in a surprisingly short time, all 

 had disappeared and were running in chase with a 

 cry that was full enough to have come from the 

 throats of twenty-five couples, and strong enough 

 to bring down the trees about their heads. Gal- 

 loping down the side of the wall to the low corner, 

 I was just in time to see a scared-looking fox jump 

 on the top of the wall, and with a twist of his 

 brush, as quickly jump back again. He must have 

 done this almost into the jaws of his pursuers, and 

 from the redoubled chorus I judged they had got 

 a view of him. One turn round and he broke 



