336 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



quarry, and quicker beats the pulse in Will Head- 

 man's heart, as the distance becomes shortened. 

 Jem he thought had not sufficient start to get there 

 before him, and running to ground seemed poor 

 consolation after such toilsome work to hounds and 

 horses. " They deserve him, any way, he was thinking, 

 when a shrill scream burst upon his ear, to which 

 the hounds sped like lightning. Another and ano- 

 other, succeeded by a " Tally ho ! forward ; '' and as 

 they near the bottom of the brake in which stood 

 the old quarry hole, a white figure on horseback was 

 discerned winding round the hill side, with the 

 leading couples. 



" What the deuce is that ?" asked Staveley, " along 

 with the hounds now ? By gad, it looks like a 

 witch!" 



" Not unlikely, Squire ; the damsels in these parts 

 are a lively lot ; and I should not be surprised at a 

 dairymaid's hunting hounds, if they came in her 

 way. Well, they've got it all to themselves now, for 

 I shan't be able to make a trot of it much farther. 

 However, it don't much signify, Jem will be there or 

 thereabouts, and he is pretty sure to finish him off 

 in good style, though he don't much fancy slow 

 work." 



" Awfully slow, Sam," exclaimed George Tracy, 

 as they were pounding away together. "Pluck up 

 your spirits now, for the finishing burst. Jem has 

 got hold of them, and twenty minutes, best pace will 

 about finish him." 



" Ten will finish my brute ; there's no go left in 

 him." 



