THE FIRST MEET OF THE S HOUNDS. i6i 



crosses the path and again plunges into the underwood, 

 but still there is no sign of a fox, and when we emerge 

 and regain the open, most of the pack are surrounding 

 the huntsman and looking inquiringly up for further 

 orders. The sun shines with rather more brightness 

 than is exactly welcome under the circumstances, 

 though still we hope for the best, and console ourselves 

 with the reflection that as there is no fox here there is 

 all the more probability that we shall find one else- 

 where — a comforting thought which will always keep 

 up the spirits of any one who cannot find the fox, the 

 fur, or the feathers that he is seeking. Across the field, 

 however, is a covert which has rarely been drawn 

 blank, and for this we make, to the great delight of the 

 horses, who are for a couple of minutes indulged in a 

 modified edition of the gallop for which they have been 

 longing. 



A too adventurous youth on a mealy chestnut rides 

 quite unnecessarily at some posts and rails, over which 

 he is promptly deposited on his back ; and Laceby and 

 his horse thereupon fall out on the question of whether 

 or not they could do it better if they tried, the horse 

 being anxious to give proof that it is just the sort of 

 jump he is especially good at, while Laceby is more 

 than willing to take his ability for granted and post- 

 pone timber jumping sine die. Leaving this ambitious 

 youth, who is much more at home in the City than in 

 the saddle, to soothe his animal with a canter round the 

 field — a mode of progression which has a good deal 



