WILY^S STORY 17 



Foster, the huntsinan, as soon as the corn is off, to 

 bring his hounds." 



" Very well, sir." 



" But mind, he ain't to kill more than one of 'em, 

 or else be hanged if ever I takes care of another litter." 



All this was explained to me afterwards, for at 

 the time I did not understand much about it. I 

 only knew that the speaker was a very nice sort of 

 man, and never doubted that he meant everything 

 that is pleasant ; although I must say that his out- 

 ward looks, the first time I saw him, did not at all 

 take my fancy. There appeared to me something 

 so ungainly and unnatural — something so very 

 absurd, to see an animal reared up on end, and 

 walking about on his hind legs ; to say nothing of 

 what seemed his hide which hung about him in 

 such a loose and uncouth fashion, as if nature had 

 been sick of her job, and refused to finish it. 



A few evenings after this I was crossing a field, 

 and watching some young rabbits, with which I 

 longed to become more nearly acquainted, when 

 suddenly a large black dog and an ugly beast called 

 a gamekeeper, jumped over a hedge. I immedi- 

 ately lay flat on the ground, hoping that I should 

 not be seen ; when, however, I found them coming 

 within a few yards of me, I started off, closely 



