HUNTING. 95 



which man or woman can hope to participate 

 in this life. 



The trot to the covert-side is iisnally very- 

 pleasant. You and your horse are quite fresh. 

 You meet and chat with your friends. The 

 two, three, or four miles, as the case may he, 

 seem to glide away very fast. Then comes 

 the anxious moment when the beauties are 

 thrown in, and all wait in eager suspense for 

 the whimper which shall proclaim Reynard 

 at home. But not a hound gives tongue this 

 morning. You can see them — heads down, 

 sterns up, heating here and there through 

 the gorse — but, alas ! in silence ; and, after 

 awhile, someone says, *^ No fox here ! " and 

 presently your ear catches the sound of the 

 huntsman's horn, and the hounds come 

 trooping out, almost as disappointed as the 

 field. 



Then the master gives the order for the 

 next or nearest covert, and there is a rush, 

 and a move, and a long cavalcade forms upon 

 the road, headed, of course, by the hounds. 

 Get well in front, if you can, so as to be 

 quite up when they reach their next try, for 



