SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 327 



" Then, by Jupiter Ammon ! I'll stick to you." 



" Thank ye, sir ; that's more than many will do. 

 Yet hark ! he's away ! Jem's holloa at the bottom 

 of the wood. Ah ! he's some way before them, but 

 holloaing and screaming won't answer the purpose. 

 It must be all beagling to-day, Squire Staveley, up 

 to a certain time; and after that I reckon upon a 

 good finish/' 



Headman was not dilatory in reaching the spot 

 where Jem had sounded his tocsiu, and the pack 

 settled down on the scent over a piece of early sown 

 wheat on rather better terms than he expected ; and 

 the wind blowing also in their teeth, they scored 

 away at a respectable pace for a couple of miles, up 

 to the Holt, where their fox again tried the earths 

 without benefit. Here, however, there being no 

 horsemen in advance to head him, he dwelt not a 

 moment longer than necessary to ascertain the fact 

 that the door was closed, and he was off again 

 towards the east ere Will Headman and his darlings 

 had entered the western side of the covert. Jem 

 was not quick enough this time to holloa him away, 

 but a yokel did the office for him. 



"Where's he gone, Bill?" asked Jem, riding up 

 in hot haste. 



" Over the plough and a whopper he be." 



" How long agone ? " 



" Handy half-an-hour, Jem." 



" By your watch, eh?" 



" Noa, dang it, I ha'ant got one." 



" Why we hav'nt found him half-an-hour agone , 

 in Cold Harbour Wood, so he must have come here 



