WILY^S STORY 25 



and having about it surely some charm ; for no 

 sooner had he opened than a score or two others of 

 the pack came rushing from all sides towards him, 

 and then such a horrible din as there was behind me. 

 I ran — I flew, I knew not whither — I crossed a road 

 in the wood — and then such frantic screaming and 

 shouting — " Tally-ho ! tally-ho ! " mixed with the 

 blast of Foster's horn, that I was almost mad with 

 fright, and must have fallen a victim to my savage 

 pursuers, had not my brothers and sisters been dis- 

 turbed by the clamour, and consequently been the 

 cause of the pack being divided into several parts, 

 thus enabling me to steal away towards the opposite 

 side of the wood, where I remained. JNIy state was 

 such that I could not be still, as I ought, and I kept 

 moving backwards and forwards and away from the 

 cry of the hounds, which at times hunted us in 

 several packs, then all together as they crossed each 

 other, and then again separated. This had gone on 

 for nearly half an hour when, to my great joy, they 

 all went away with a frightful yell, leaving the wood 

 and me miles behind them. I was congratulating 

 myself on my escape, and listening to hear if they 

 were returning, when I was startled by the sound of 

 steps approaching, and a panting, as of some animal 

 in distress ; it was one of my brothers, evidently 



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