372 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



for nothing; and I always backs them barren downs, 

 as you call them, against meadow lands, as holding 

 a better scent any day in the week. You see, 

 squire, scent depends more or less upon the air than 

 upon the 'arth and I dare say you've noticed a sharp 

 frost take more hold of things under the hill than atop 

 of it. Hark ! to Counsellor. Have at him, my lads ! 

 hoic together ! hoic! They're a- sticking to him, sir, 

 and one more round will about satisfy him. But, as 

 I were saying, there ain't such a thing as a rule for 

 scent ; nobody can tell anything about it except by 

 experience. Your wiseacres book men them as 

 sucks other folks' brains for what they puts in print 

 knows all about it, in course, and talks a deal about 

 ^atmospherical and terrestrial influences; and yet, 

 squire, they knows no more about what they are 

 writing than a schoolboy beginning to spell his 

 ABC does about grammar. But there's Jem's 

 holloa he's away ; and we'll talk more on scent, sir, 

 as we goes home with his brush." 



A rush was instantly made by some fifty of the 

 right sort, who still followed the hounds into the 

 vale; but it was evident, after crossing the first large 

 grass field, that there was but a holding scent, and 

 not much chance of the pack getting clear, as in 

 the morning, of the horsemen. The fences, however, 

 proved strong enough for the veriest glutton, which 

 went for something, and the pace good enough to 

 keep tli em from riding too close, until they reached 

 the bank of a Avido and deep river intersecting the 

 country, and at a point where no friendly bridge was 

 perceptible. 



