314 Cross Country with Horse and Hound 



ing can make them. You can tell with half an eye they 

 are very well bred and very fast. The hounds also, you 

 cannot but notice, in size, colour, and markings show evi- 

 dence of the carefulness of their selection. Altogether 

 they are the pride and admiration of all the hunt. 



When the huntsman comes to a halt the crowd has 

 formed in a wide circle about him. Hunting men and 

 hound-fanciers are already discussing the points of the 

 hounds, and farmers and their wives and children are 

 pointing out what hounds they have had at their own farms 

 at walk, recounting their deviltries with real delight. 

 Occasionally a young hound recognises his country friends, 

 and trots over to them at the sound of their voices or upon 

 hearing them call his name. They may have come miles, 

 some of these people, just to have a word with the puppy 

 they "walked," and to see how he looks as a hound in such 

 grand company. 



" Of all things ! " cries Mrs. Farmer. " Why, Puppy, 

 how you have changed ! When he left our place," she 

 will explain to whoever is standing near, " he was as fat as 

 butter, and now look at him. You can count every rib in 

 his body. Dear me ! he must have been homesick. He 

 has more muscle and I dare say he minds better, and all 

 that. But fancy his going out for a hard day's work with 

 no breakfast ! " 



Villagers old and young fill out the circle, while first- 

 time visitors to the hunt look on in open-mouthed 

 wonderment. 



Meanwhile the hounds are walking about the hunts- 

 man's horse, sitting on their haunches, rolling on the grass, 



