Riding to Covert 319 



ries her point, half a dozen carriages and as many road- 

 riders will have surrounded the wood in the best possible 

 positions, as they think, to see the find and start, and will 

 be sure to make the fox break covert before hounds reach 

 there or can station themselves in a position to head him 

 back. 



Mrs. So-and-So, not being able herself to go to the 

 huntsman, asked an unsophisticated gentleman, eager enough 

 for a commission from the fashionable lady. 



" Oh, Mr. Unsophisticated," she called to him. " You 

 are just the man I J m looking for. Would you mind 

 doing me a favour ? " 



" Most happy, I assure you," answered the delighted 

 gentleman. " Nothing could afford me " 



" Just go out and say to the huntsman, Mrs. So-and-So 

 wishes to know as a special favour as a special favour, 

 mind what covert is to be drawn first. There 's a good 

 man. Never mind your hat." 



" Delighted to obey your orders, Madame," said Mr. U., 

 with an impressive bow. Then, later, to a farmer on the 

 edge of the circle, he said timidly, afraid to go in among 

 the hounds, " I should like to speak to the huntsman." 



" Go right up to him, stranger. The hounds won't hurt 

 you," advised the farmer, knowing well what would 

 happen. 



The messenger ventured in, but no sooner had he entered 

 an opening than the hounds surrounded him. First one and 

 then another poked a cold nose against his hand, which 

 jerked back as if it had touched a red-hot coal. Other 

 hounds, seeing a man throwing up his hands, thought they 



