SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 209 



sticks, as lie turned right away from the line others 

 were following into one of his own choosing, prick- 

 ing Ploughman along and teaching him to take his 

 fences. Dick's conjectures proved correct as to the 

 event of this furious burst up wind ; the fox, finding 

 he could not hold it any longer, turned short away 

 to the right for another point, in the direction Dick 

 was riding, crossing a large open pasture just in 

 view of him. 



"Ha, ha!" he chuckled, "just as I thought; that's 

 our friend, and no mistake, although I never see 

 him before. He's in a terrible fluster, but I shan't 

 holler him yet ; let Ploughman get his wind first. 

 But where are the hounds ? I can't hear one of 

 'em." 



Ah ! where were the hounds ? Making a 

 swinging cast forward, after having passed across 

 one large field without an atom of scent. Tom 

 Clearwell, their huntsman, was still holding them 

 on, trying to recover the scent in a semicircle, when 

 Jem, the first whip, whose ears were always open 

 to squalls, rode up to him, saying, " Master, I think 

 I hear a halloa to the right of us, down wind, but 

 'tis very faint." 



" Then be off, Jem, whilst I make sure of my 

 ground, and if it's all right, give us the office." 



Jem went off like a shot, and as he neared Dick 

 Woodcraft another view-halloa greeted his ear, 

 about which there could be no mistake, and his 

 own scream came forth in such shrill response, that 

 Tom, catching them up, rode wildly off to the point, 

 Dick still vociferating with might and main. 



