A RECORD DAY 143 



sniffing the air as we left the stableyard ; and, " I 

 like the look o' things," he added, as we came into 

 sight of about thirty as keen sportsmen as one 

 would wish to join, assembled at the place of meet — 

 a number augmented to about sixty as we moved 

 off to draw Tofts Dene. Hounds had dashed out 

 of kennel that morning and behaved as if they 

 already felt a scent, and now showed indications 

 of wishing to be put into a small strip of plantation 

 on the way to the Dene ; and barely waiting for 

 Tom Telfer to slip on to a cross ride or for the 

 wave of my arm, they hurled into it and instantly 

 threw their tongues. I saw Tom's cap go up, and 

 as I got nearer him, noticed the remains of the 

 strangled scream that was half choking him as he 

 galloped forward with set teeth, spurring all he knew 

 and cracking his whip, as he raced for a point 

 where he wished to head the fox off from going 

 back into our own country. This he succeeded 

 in accomplishing, so much to his own satisfaction 

 that his ^^ gone away " holloa was unnecessarily 

 loud and prolonged, and his excitement led him 

 to whip out his horn and blow till his breath was 

 spent. 



Tom claimed an intimate acquaintance with every 

 fox in the country-side, and he was wont at times 

 to declare he knew them all by head mark. 



'' That's the beggar the Duke's chivied on Thurs- 

 day when they had to be stopped in the darkness at 

 four o'clock, and he's stiff as a board, and stale as 

 cold porridge," he yelled, as I got alongside of him. 

 Then reading disapproval in my eye, he added, 

 " Nothing like giving him a ' gliff ' to go away with ; 



