SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 109 



to those spinnies under the hill, I want to see how 

 your young hounds can run over the open/' 



We pleaded in vain for a respite to this young 

 fox, which had taken a capital line of country, in 

 the hope of his showing us a run in the season. 



" Nothing like time present/' was his answer ; 

 " a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, and 

 you are not sure of finding him again besides 

 which, I am no rider to hounds, as you know, so 

 here I shall sit in my saddle on the brow of the 

 hill, whilst you go down to turn him out, and then 

 I shall be able to tell you which is the fastest hound 

 in your entry, and how they come on over the 

 greensward won't that be a pretty sight ? " he 

 asked, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. 



" Others would like to witness that sight as 

 well as yourself/' 



" Very likely ; but as I breed cubs for my own 

 amusement and yours, not for the field, about 

 whom I don't care a rap, I am quite sure you will 

 indulge my fancy : then we shall have two young 

 and two old left still." 



His wishes being somewhat in the nature of 

 commands, we were obliged to go in search of 

 Number 3, and our friend on the hill saw more of 

 the run than we did, the cub being caught just as 

 he reached the wood-hedge, greatly to the owner's 

 delight. 



We were, however, never guilty of killing cubs 

 for the sake of counting noses, which huntsmen 

 generally are prone to do. This is their weak 

 point ; and to be paraded in print as the destroyer 



