^Nimrod ' 



the scent lying breast-high. But the crash ! — the music ! — 

 how to describe these ? Reader, there is no crash now, and 

 not much music. It is the tinker that makes great noise 

 over a Httle work ; but at the pace these hounds are going 

 there is no time for babbUng. Perchance one hound in 

 five may throw his tongue as he goes, to inform his com- 

 rades, as it were, that the villain is on before them, and 

 most musically do the light notes of Vocal and Venus fall 

 on the ear of those who may be within reach to catch them. 

 But who is so fortunate in this second burst, nearly as terrible 

 as the first ? Our fancy supplies us again, and we think 

 we could name them all. If we look to the left, nearly 

 abreast of the pack, we see six men going gallantly, and 

 quite as straight as the hounds themselves are going, and on 

 the right are four more, riding equally well, though the 

 former have rather the best of it, owing to having had the 

 inside of the hounds at the last two turns, which must be 

 placed to the chapter of accidents. A short way in the rear, 

 by no means too much so to enjoy this brilliant run, are the 

 rest of the elite of the field, who had come up at the first 

 check ; and a few who, thanks to the goodness of their 

 steeds, and their determination to be with the hounds, 

 appear as if dropped from the clouds. Some, however, begin 

 to show symptoms of distress. Two horses are seen loose 

 in the distance — a report is flying about that one of the 

 field is badly hurt, and something is heard of a collar- 

 bone being broken, others say it is a leg ; but the pace is 

 too good to inquire. A cracking of rails is now heard, and 



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