240 THE SPORT OF KINGS 



was the case. Next season the mystery was cleared 

 up. As soon as the hunting season was over foxes 

 began to be seen about, earths were cleaned out, 

 and there were plenty of litters, and in course of 

 time the cub-hunting season came round again. 

 Very early one September morning, as soon as it 

 was well light, a start was made in those same 

 coverts. I was the only one out except the hunt 

 servants, and we separated, and, as the Yankees 

 say, " kept our eyes skinned." Hounds soon got 

 amongst the cubs, and there was some grand fun 

 for about half an hour. Then the cubs failed to 

 see where the amusement came in ; they were 

 tired of it, and they would have no more. As 

 luck would have it, there was a fair scent, and 

 hounds were driving along merrily into an open 

 space in the wood where the huntsman was quietly 

 standing. Suddenly a fox appeared on the scene, 

 trotted quietly away to a group of laurels, and was 

 seen no more. Then another came, and another, 

 and another, and then came the hounds to mark 

 the lot to ground in a very big and strong earth. 

 " That's where my foxes were all last season," said 

 the huntsman. And doubtless he was right. The 

 keeper, of course, was not to blame on this occa- 

 sion, for he did not know of the earth, but I fancy 

 an old professional earth-stopper would have known 

 of it. I ventured to express that opinion to the 

 huntsman. He made no answer ; he is not a 

 talkative man, but he thinks a lot. 



I can call to mind several occasions where 

 hounds scarcely ever found a fox without his going 

 to ground in a few minutes. And there was a 

 large amount to pay for finds on certain estates 

 with the minimum of sport resulting. A circular 



