DOING ONE^S BEST FOR A FRIEND^S CREDIT. 153 



" I am aware of tliat/^ said I ; ^^ at this moment 

 we do not move onr liats to him as an acquaint- 

 ance, but in virtue of his situation as master of 

 the pack; a piece of courtesy that no well-bred 

 man omits on like occasions." 



Our courtesy returned. " You are on a new 

 horse, I see, Hieover," said the Master, " and a 

 very fine horse he is." 



" He is merely one I am trying for a friend, 

 my lord." " Well," said 1, to my friend, " that is 

 no fib, and if grey exposes himself, his being ^ on 

 trial,^ will save the credit of your stable." 



"Come," said I, "now do throw away that 

 beastly weed you have been puffing this half-hour, 

 for this cover which is not large is sure to hold a 

 fox, arid when he does go from here you will have 

 enough to do with your horse, I can tell you, 

 without blowino^ a fire under vour nose." 



The Master now gave a wave with his hand, and 

 the Huntsman rode gently towards the cover. 

 Not a hound stirred from his horse^s heels till, 

 having come close to the hedge, "Yoi over 

 there ; loo in ! loo in ! " sent every hound on to 

 the hedge, and dropping on the other side not 

 one was visible. The Huntsman now trotted to a 

 gate leading into the cover, and only the field was 

 to be seen. " Yoi ! wind him there;" halloos the 

 huntsman. 



" Loo on ! loo on, hounds ! " cries the First Whip, 

 finding two or three couple rather dwelling at the 



