258 THE SPORT OF KINGS 



so on was heard in continual chorus. A thick 

 hedgerow or two were tried as hounds went on to 

 the covert in question, and with no result. Then 

 came the chorus again, " What could you ex- 

 pect ? " "Of course, there's no fox." "Told 

 you so," and just when the chorus was at its 

 height the whipper-in's " Forrard, away ! " told its 

 tale, and a clipping run over a big country was the 

 result. I am obliged to own that it was with an 

 unholy joy that I saw four or five of the noisiest of 

 the critics " take a toss " before we had been going 

 ten minutes. I should add that I never heard of 

 any one who had grace enough to say to the Master 

 that he was sorry for the critical remarks he had 

 made, or even express to any one that it was he and 

 not the Master " who didn't know his business." 



