SANDYS STORY 119 



ha\-ing heard the dreadful hallooing before described, 

 and knowing it to be a good scenting day. had 

 moved away some time before the hounds had 

 reached the coverL although the crash they made 

 there seemed as if close to me, I then ran as 

 described before, straight to a drain about three or 

 four miles off: but although I had so good a start 

 they nearly overtook me before I reached it. 

 Waiting near the entrance I overheard the follow- 

 ing remarks : — 



•' How verk* unlucky, just as the hounds were 

 running into him. Such a swift pace they came, 

 he could not have stood it five minutes longer.'' 

 I then distinctly heard the gentleman alluded to 

 before exclaim, *'•' Well I I shall not be surprised if 

 there are half a dozen foxes in this drain : some- 

 where they must be." 



Then another voice, " Well, Will, what do you 

 think now of ^Ir. Smith's foresay as to its being 

 a good scentinor dav f " 



" ^ly lord, he was right : I never in all my life 

 saw the homids run so fast — ^faster they could not 

 go." He suddenly turned towards the man who 

 ought to have stopped the drain. "Hoot, mon, 

 how is this i The earths open at yer var\" ain 

 door P 



