SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 37 1 



inability of his pack to force a fox from a large wood 

 of several hundred acres. " Force him out, sir, did 

 you say ?" rejoined the indignant master. " Force 



your grandmother to &c., &c. ! " There is a great 



deal of truth also in the doggrel lines respecting 

 the conduct of a fox, even under pressing circum- 

 stances : 



"If he will go, he will, you may depend on'fc ; 

 But if he won't, he won't and there's an end on't." 



By the time Will Headman reached Hazel Grove 

 it was nearly two o'clock in the afternoon ; and we 

 all know that afternoon found foxes generally prove 

 the stoutest runners, one cause of which is assigned 

 to their having enjoyed a longer siesta, after perhaps 

 a late heavy breakfast. Hazel Grove was not a covert 

 of sufficient area to admit of a fox playing vagaries 

 with his enemies, and Headman's rattlers soon 

 convinced the old gentleman found therein that 

 they were quite in earnest about either ousting or 

 eating him. The head they held through the 

 faggot sticks admitted of no short turnings, for they 

 ran in a widely extended front, like a trawling net 

 spread out for catching fishes. 



" Capital scent still, Will/' remarked Staveley. 



"They are whirling him round a bit rather 

 sharply, squire, as usual on first finding ; but how 

 long it will last is another matter." 



" There ought to be a better scent over these rich 

 pasture fields than across those barren downs we 

 have just left." 



" There's no ( ought y in this case, squire, begging 

 your pardon, except the big round letter which goes 



B B 2 



