HUNTING. 99 



-would be sure to send the ^' varmint " back 

 into his lair. Your pilot, knowing that a run 

 from here is a certainty, selects his vantage 

 ground. Being a shrewd man, he knows 

 that no fox will face a keen nor'-easter, nor 

 will he be hkely to brave the crowd of country 

 bumpkins, who, despite the Master's entreaties, 

 are clustering about yondei; hedge. In short, 

 there is only one point from which he can well 

 break, and so your pilot prepares accordingly. 

 Another anxious moment ere the *' Gone 

 away ! Tally-ho ! " rings out upon the keen 

 air ; and then follows that glorious burst 

 which is worth giving up a whole year of one's 

 life to see. Hounds running breast high, 

 fairly flying, in fact ; huntsmen, whips, horse- 

 men, all in magnificent flight, each riding 

 hard for the foremost place, amid such a 

 chorus of dehcious music as is never heard 

 from any save canine throats ; and then, when 

 the first big fence is reached, such hurry and 

 scurry ! such tumbling and picking up again ! 

 such scrambKng of dogs and shouting of 

 men ! such cold baths for horses and riders ! 



and oh, such glory amongst the wreckers, as 



7 * 



