HORSES AND HOUNDS. 195 



not relisliing the new state of things, tried the outskirts of the 

 covert, and in a few minutes broke away over a piece of old 

 pasture, witli the vale below us, and some water meadows. One 

 short and sharp scream brougiit them all out, Jim and Jack too. 

 " Where's his point now, Jack ]" " Over the water, sir, I think, 

 to those woods on the opposite side." " He can't do it, and save 

 his brush." "He'll try for it, sir," was Jack's reply, "as there 

 is a head of earths there, and they are ojyen, worse luck.'''' " Then 

 be off. Jack, like a shot, to the eartlis ; cram the spurs in, and 

 go straight as a bird — never mind a cold bath." " Never fear, 

 sir, I'll do it, and be there before him." " Now, Jim, keep where 

 you are, this side on the hill ; ride opposite to us, and mind he 

 don't get back into that thundering big wood again, for I sus- 

 pect he will turn yet." 



These orders were given in much less time than I am writing 

 them ; and away we went with two young dashing farmers, who 

 had joined us down the hill, close to the hounds, who now find- 

 ing some turf under their feet, streamed away like a flock of 

 pigeons. " That will do, my lads," I cried, in high excitement j 

 " forward, away ! — good-bye to Slowman and Co." Turning to 

 my companions, I asked what sort of bottom there was in the 

 river below. " You can't jump it, sir," said one, " and it's deep ; 

 but there is a ford about half a mile up, where we cross over." 

 " That wont suit me just now, my friends ; where the hounds 

 go I follow\" " But you wont swim that river, sir?" " Wont I, 

 though ; come and see." " Well," he said, " it is awkward work 

 across those water meadows to begin with, but, sink or swim, 

 you shan't go alone this time, for you are one of the right sort, 

 to my thinking." " Come along, then ;" and bang we went over 

 a bullfincher into the soft slush on the other side. 



Scrambling through the^e peaty meadows, however, was no 

 joke, and our boots and buckskins were the colour of Mr. Slow- 

 man's very soon. The river side was nearly approached, when, 

 in_ an osier bed on its banks, the fox suddenly changed his 

 mind, and, instead of taking to the water, turned up the osier 

 bed, and ran by its side. " I am not sorry for that move," said 

 my companion ; " my teeth began to chatter at the very thought 

 of it." " Oh," I said, " a little washing would have made us 

 look like decent people again. Cold water don't agree with me, 

 but if we catch this old fox, the chances are I shall treat myself 

 to a little hot ivith, softer dinner, and," I added, "you shall have 

 his brush to stir your bowl with." 



Fortunately for my friend, the osier bed declined gradually 

 from the river, and the fox, holding to its shelter from view, ran 

 the whole length, and we soon found ourselves on terra irma 



02 



