A HUNTSMAN. 155 



master's hounds. There are no tales of " what Bill Heigh 

 said to that fellow on the brown mare," or " how he 

 shut up young Blank." 



Now and again he has to make a request to some 

 troublesome members of the Hunt, or more likely to 

 some stranger from town ; but though perhaps his 

 equable temper may be tried at times, he is always 

 respectful and polite. 



He married pretty Polly Maizeley, the younger sister 

 of his early friend, and there is a sturdy little Bill, junior, 

 some four years old, who toddles about after his sire, 

 and when the sire is away from home may generally be 

 found in intimate companionship v/ith some wise old 

 hound or frolicsome puppy by the fireside in winter, and 

 on the doorstep of Bill's neat little cottage in warm 

 weather. 



In time he will doubtless succeed his father : such at 

 least is Bill Heigh's aspiration. It is the general 

 opinion that little Bill is a genuine chip of the old 

 block ; and so there is every reason to hope that for 

 many years to come the Meadowmere Hounds will be 

 provided with a Huntsman. 



