14 MELTON AND HOMESPUN 



' Now,' said the huntsman, ' we shall see who is meddling 

 with my hounds.' 



" We had gone some way along the main ride before 

 we heard the hounds running towards us from the left. 

 They came nearer and nearer, and presently burst out 

 of the undergrowth about eighty yards ahead of us, 

 turned sharp left-handed, and went straight up the 

 ride in full cry. Just as they passed a branch ride 

 leading from the left, an object dashed out of it and 

 followed in their wake. It was Pride of Tyrone in full 

 career. 



" Both our horses were dead beat, so, bucket along as 

 we might, we could not keep the hounds in view, and the 

 cry was getting fainter and fainter when the huntsman's 

 horse behind me came down with a squelch and a clatter. 

 I never even stopped I am afraid I set more value on 

 Pride of Tyrone but sent my horse along for all he was 

 worth to the end of the wood. There I found that the 

 hounds had crossed the road into Oxlow Wood, Pride of 

 Tyrone with them. 



" As you know, Oxlow Wood is an irregular crescent in 

 shape, with only one ride through it lengthways, and a 

 horse can therefore only get in or out at the ends, or 

 horns, of the crescent. It was just the same in those 

 days ; so, having made sure that Pride of Tyrone had 

 entered, I cut across to the far end, thinking to intercept 

 him. There were no tracks leading out of the wood, and 

 the chances were against his turning back, so I awaited 

 developments. 



' The sun was just setting blood-red. The sky in the 

 west was like a sheet of flame. Not a breath of wind 

 stirred the woods, and behind them the mist was creeping 



