206 HORSES AXD HOUNDS. 



So nmcli for perseverance, or obstinacy, as some may call it ; 

 but when once satisfied in my own judgment upon any point, I 

 was never diverted from it by the opinions of others. The fable 

 of the old man and his ass, which I read when a boy, has always 

 been fresh in my memory. Listen attentively to good advice 

 when offered ; but every man ought to be the best judge whether 

 it will suit his own case. With great care, these two hounds, 

 which had been under the earth for nine days, and so unex- 

 pectedly rescued alive, recovered, and lived for some years after- 

 wards in my kennels, and lived to enjoy their otium cum digni- 

 tate when too old to work. In the fore leg of one, the flesh was 

 separated quite down to the bone, from what cause I could never 

 tell, except from the hound licking or sucking it to sustain life. 

 So much for underground work. In my next I shall resume 

 my adventures suh JovejYtgido. 



CHAPTER XXXIL 



Last day in Mr. Slowman's country — Departure for home — Hounds out of 

 blood out of heart — Short days and short work necessary to recover them — 

 Digging out a fox, occasionally to be given to the hounds as an encourage- 

 ment — Number of foxes' noses on kennel door no proof of sport — Foxes 

 shy animals, particularly old ones — Cm-ious instance of a fox evading 

 capture in a rabbit pipe — Fast skurry over the do^vns — Open and enclosed 

 countries — A good woodland day elicits the quaUty of the pack — My own 

 hounds — Kind treatment recommended. 



Our last fixture has now been made in Mr. Slowman's country. 

 The day was propitious, and our lucky star in the ascendant. 

 "We found our fox early, and had a capital fifty minutes, and 

 killed him liandsomely. This ended our month's hunting in my 

 friend's country. With the exception of one day only, w^hen we 

 ran to ground, we killed every fox we found. " Now, gentle- 

 men," I said, " I must wish you a long farewell. My hounds 

 have forty miles to travel home to-morrow, and although it is 

 still early, I am sorry I cannot draw for another fox. We have 

 finished Vv^ell, and I always like to leave well alone." All 

 pressed me to draw again, and my friend said it was a slow 

 thing leaving off so early in the day. " Very likely," I replied, 

 " but fast or slow it must be done upon this occasion. I shall 

 not draw another inch." 

 We hear occasionally of hounds being out of luck, and not 



