FOX-HOUNDS 249 



kno^^^l of most animals, and in nothing greater 

 probably than in their finding their way home great 

 distances. The -vmter was once left upwards of 

 forty miles from his kennel, after an extraordinary 

 run, which was described by Ximrod some years 

 back, and two hounds were missing which were 

 seen to go off "v\ith another scent at the end of the 

 run, when a fresh fox crossed them. Nothing was 

 heard of them for three days ; but on the fourth 

 they both found their way to the kennel, not look- 

 ing the worse for their travels. Had they followed 

 the track of the hoimds that night, or even next 

 mornuig, it would not have been extraordinary, of 

 course. 



The folloA^dng is another proof of sagacity. Not 

 long since the writer went to see a celebrated pack 

 throw off, he being mounted on a hack. When 

 they were running hard, and going across the open 

 — having left a large cover behind them — at the 

 edge of which he pulled up, on seemg them at a 

 check more than a quarter of a mile off, when they 

 came to a road. Just at this time the whipper-in 

 rode up to him and asked where they were. On 

 tlieir being pointed out to him, it was suggested by 

 the ^mter that he had better wait a few minutes 

 and see what was to happen, as the huntsman was 



