78 HOUND AND HOEN ; 



Common on that da}^ ; but as to scent, there was little 



or none. I believe foxes know pretty well when they 



can be hunted or otherwise, and on the morning in 



question they kept creeping about in the thick of the 



gorse, giving the pack no end of trouble, but refusing 



to quit it. Jack Fricker did all he could, but however 



good the huntsman may be, or however much he may 



try to do his best, there are circumstances when all his 



energy may be in vain. I had observed my old friend 



go quietly away to a ride towards the outside quarter of 



the covert, and there he sat as mute as a mouse ; but 



I knew he meant business, and, as I watched him, 



I fancied his wished-for moment had arrived. There 



was a kind of excitement about him, though he uttered 



not a sound, as some of the leading hounds forced 



their way through the gorse to the point where he 



was sitting on his horse ; now and then one throwing 



tongue ; as they could just feel the scent ; as they came 



up to him. I saw a white head, and the old man, cap in 



hand, cheered them over the ride. He had viewed the 



fox across, hut he hneiv tetter than to halloo I Oh ! if 



every one would but think of this ! He knew the 



covert was not so thick towards the outside ; and he let 



the pack come up to him without getting their heads 



up. There was a crash as the Tedworth big pack got 



up pretty close to their fox, and had room to move. 



