194' HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



hour." " Give him half an hour longer, and then I don't care : 

 pitch into the lot, if you like. I will get out of the way of 

 the slow coaches, for I see there will be a row, and I shall be 

 lectured pretty well by our friend on the brown horse." 



Lookers-on generally see the most of a fight, and Jim and I 

 had been watching the proceedings like a brace of fresh grey- 

 hounds, impatient of the slips. We had ridden all over the 

 covert, to see the ins and outs, and know the colours of the dif- 

 ferent riders to a T — that is, the foxes. They were all of the 

 bull-dog species, small and dark : but there w^as one^ much 

 darker than the others, and slower in his movements ; in fact, 

 the fox we had been rumiing in the morning. Taking Jim with 

 nie in the drives, I pointed out to him this fox, as he crossed 

 over two or three times. " That's our man, Jim, when we begin 

 the row ; mark him well, and don't make a mistake." " All right, 

 sir ; but what am I to say to J\Ir. Slowman when he pitches into 

 me, which he will do to a certainty ?" " Say you must help him 

 a bit, as he seems nearly tired." 



I liad been with the hounds, whispering a word or two in 

 their ears occasionally, when, time being up by my watch, I 

 posted myself where the fox crossed, drew my horn quietly out, 

 and, upon my dark friend making his appearance, with a shrill 

 blast or two, and a scream which made him jump again, I com- 

 menced business. Jim was behind the hounds, ready for the 

 signal. " Hark, halloo," cried Jim, " to him, my lads — get 

 away !" and, hustling them away, down they came, crashing 

 through the underwood, all alive. Cap in hand, I cheered them 

 over the drive, with " Have at him again !" and, riding with 

 them, they set to work in right good earnest, and we made the 

 welkin ring again. " What's all this row ?" exclaimed one of the 

 field. " Oh, I know," replied the sporting divine, " those two 

 mad fellows have got hold of the hounds." " So much the better," 

 quoth his neighbour ; " variety is rather charming upon such 

 an occasion, and charming music they are making just now." Old 

 Slowman looked as black as thunder, and said, " 'Twas not fair 

 play." " Fair or foul," I said, " I don't care ; for I have your 

 master's permission, and the hounds shall have a fox to-day, or 

 I am out of my reckoning." 



What to do he did not know ; if he went home he would have 

 the laugh against him, and he knew he was no favourite with 

 his present master. He tried to get the hounds away to another 

 fox, but Jim and I stuck so close to them, that he could not do 

 it. The under-whip, who had come from a fast country, and 

 disliked Mr. Slowman, readily joined in the fray. " That's right, 

 Jack," I said, " you'll make a huntsman another day." The fox. 



