The Sport of Our Ancestors 



the best side of hunting, went with them. The five miles 

 were five long miles, and as the pace was not above seven 

 miles an hour, nearly an hour was occupied. There was 

 therefore plenty of opportunity for the Senator to inquire 

 whether the gentlemen around him were as yet enjoying 

 their sport. There was an air of triumph about him as to 

 the misfortunes of the day, joined to a battery of continued 

 raillery, which made it almost impossible for Morton to 

 keep his temper. He asked whether it was not at any rate 

 better than trotting a pair of horses backwards and forwards 

 over the same mile of road for half the day, as is the custom 

 in the States. But the Senator, though he did not quite 

 approve of trotting matches, argued that there was infinitely 

 more of skill and ingenuity in the American pastime. 

 * Everybody is so gloomy,' said the Senator, lighting his 

 third cigar. * I Ve been watching that young man in pink 

 boots for the last half hour, and he hasn't spoken a word 

 to any one.' 



' Perhaps he 's a stranger,' said Morton. 



* And that 's the way you treat him ! ' 



It was past two when the hounds were put into the gorse, 

 and certainly no one was in a very good humour. A trot 

 of five miles is disagreeable, and two o'clock in November 

 is late for finding a first fox, and then poisoning is a vice 

 which may grow into a habit ! There was a general feeling 

 that Goarly ought to be extinguished, but an idea that it 

 might be difficult to extinguish him. The whips, never- 

 theless, cantered on to the corner of the covert, and Tony 

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