95 SKETCHES IN THE HUNTING FIE ID. 



somebody ventures to say. *' Sir Henry takes enough 

 pains witli them, anyhow." 



"A deuced sight too much pains. He's always try- 

 ing experiments with some new blood, and what's the 

 result ? All the old excellences of the pack are dis- 

 appearing, and we have a set of snipe-nosed brutes " 



"That find foxes, anyhow, and run them pretty 

 hard ! " cries the defender, as he crashes through the 

 fence after the hounds, which are again in full cry down 

 the vale ; and we are spared the a.rgument that would 

 have resulted had anybody cared to take it up, as to 

 the good and bad points common to snipe-nosed 

 hounds. 



On we go again, well in, it seems, for a fast thing, 

 and for some time Crookton can find nothing to com- 

 plain of except a clever bit of riding on the part of the 

 first whip, who neatly saves a fall over some awkward 

 rails, and draws from Crookton a muttered grumble to 

 the effect that Tom is a deuced deal too fond of steeple- 

 chasing, and if he thought more of his hounds and less 

 of showing off, he would be very much better suited for 

 his place. 



*' Well ! If this is a bagman he's pretty fit to go ! " 

 Scatterly cries out, as his well-pumped horse bungles 

 over some low rails and nearly lands on his head, and 

 Crookton can only reply by a growl of disapprobation 

 at something indefinite — not the pace, unless he would, 

 like it slower. 



But rest is at hand. 



