SOME HUNTING STORIES 199 



the same time, and he asked her to hold his horse 

 for him while he cut the wire. 



She did so proudly, but directly it was cut, she 

 let the reins go and drove her hunter at the bank, 

 leaving the Master horseless and murmuring 

 thank you as she left. 



" Dear me," was the only remark he made, as 

 he watched the girl gallop on. 



I went away too soon myself at Knockeyne one 

 year, galloping on with a division without even 

 seeing if hounds were out. The whip waiting 

 quietly, soon stopped us. 



Some of them got back before I did, but of 

 course I met the Master. 



" Have you seen the hounds ? " was his only 

 comment, as I fled to hide myself. The tone was 

 enough. 



And the man who rode beside me thought that we 

 were not being scolded and said, " That's all right, 

 he asked us if we'd seen them." 



Masters have many things to put up with. Once 

 hounds disappeared into covert and seemed very 

 busy about the centre ; they did not work at all 

 through it. 



The Master wondered what had happened, no 

 tongue had been thrown. 



" He should be there anyways," said the grin- 

 ning owner, "for I put a sheep that died in there 

 last night." 



The hounds, full of mutton, were gradually 



