334 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



field from the brake, where Sam Coventry had 

 knocked over old Jasper into the ditch, outside of 

 which, when getting again upon his legs, without 

 sustaining much damage, he was busily making a 

 short line of his own, whilst the pack were being 

 forced forward by horsemen over the scent. 



" Here it is," cried the master; " hark to Jasper, 

 Will." 



"The old dog has it, sure enough;" and a toot 

 from his horn brought the pack round in a minute. 

 " Down wind again," muttered Will Headman ; 

 " that's his point, as I judged before." 



" Then why not steal a march upon him ?" asked 

 John Staveley; "your hounds will bear lifting once 

 in a way." 



" Very true, sir; but I don't think we should mend 

 matters much by lifting with a scent like this, and 

 there is no covert big enough to hold him for any 

 length of time between this and the old quarry hole 

 he is making for. The hounds arc working away 

 well upon the line, and if we got their heads up, 

 they wouldn't feel disposed to put them down again 

 in the same persevering manner as now. 'Tisn't a 

 day to take liberties, sir." 



With patience and perseverance, the pack held to 

 the line of their fox, occasionally assisted by their 

 huntsman, for some seven miles over a heavy arable 

 country, and the horses were beginning to feel the 

 effects of going fetlock deep the greater part of the 

 distance, not to mention the constant strain upon 

 their sinews from the strong fencing, when AVill 

 Headman's ear caught the chattering of a magpie, 



