198 HORSES AND HOmTDS. 



cart-horse, was put in requisition, and a large and motley field 

 assembled to meet us at the fixture. A venerable old squire, 

 too, who ranked first in the country, at this time returned 

 home, and made his appearance. He had heard of our per- 

 formances, and being of a cheerful and generous disposition, 

 fond of the sport, and an admirer of both quick hounds and 

 quick horses, always keeping thorough-bred stock himself, and 

 a horse to improve the breed amongst the farmers, he was a 

 great and deserved favourite. He came up at once and made 

 my acquaintance ; said he was glad to hear of my knocking the 

 foxes about — just what they wanted. "Yes, sir," I said, "I 

 think tliey will bear thinning out a little." "Quite my 

 opinion." " But there are some of your neighbours who think 

 we are a very crazy lot, and are very hard upon us." " Never 

 mind them, young gentleman, you may reckon me among your 

 friends, and old James Dunbar is not to be sneezed at — rattle 

 away, and I will help you through thick and thin." 



With many thanks for his protFered assistance, we proceeded 

 to draw a small coppice, which lay just inside and after a high 

 park wall, built of bricks. The ground being lowest on the 

 wood side, it was difficult — almost impossible — for any hounds 

 to jump it. There were large hare holes at certain distances, 

 wide enough for a fox to pass through, but not a hound. One 

 of Mr. Slowman's favourites had taken up his abode in this 

 pretty spot, and, being a very artful dodger, was selected as 

 certain to baffle us upon this occasion. Jim and Jack had now 

 become great friends, after our last day's performance, and we 

 had, therefore, full information as to the measures of Mr. Wiley, 

 of Burton Park, and we took our precautions accordingly. This 

 crafty old gentleman always lay close under the wall, and, upon 

 being found, immediately bolted through one of the hare holes, 

 across the road, and away to some other small coverts, while the 

 hounds were fruitlessly attempting to jump the wall. 



Mr. Slowman, I found, had been bothered repeatedly in this 

 manner, and instead of putting some of the hounds over the 

 wall at once, had the pack whipped after him to the nearest 

 lodge gate, by which time his friend Wiley had gone a couple of 

 miles, at least, and, after making a circuit round the country, he 

 always came back thivu^h the lower part of the park, and 

 through the hare holes again, where a ainulaj scene was enacted. 

 If not beaten at this game, it was very evident to me that he 

 would serve us the same trick he had so often palmed upon Mr. 

 Slowman with success. Kunning this over in my mind, I at length 

 decided upon a course which I thought would put me upon a 

 par with Mr. Wiley, and Jim was acqordingly made acquainted 



