150 TALES AND TRAITS OF SPORTING LIFE. 



A SECOND FOX. 



*' Well^ g-entlemen^ what do you say? have we had' 

 enough, or shall we try for another ? I am at your service, 

 you know." 



" Try for another,' ' answers the honourahle Mr. Hastie, 

 who has gone a good one already, and would like to do it 

 again — with ^' a second horse" to do it on. 



^^ Had enough, I think," murmurs good man Yeo- 

 mans, who is rather expecting the butcher to look at the 

 hull-calf, and would like to go home to meet him — if the 

 hounds go home too. 



«^ I am sure there is a fox in ^ the Firs, ' " suggests the 

 gallant Captain Closeshave, R.N., who has been distri- 

 buting a bottle of ^^ very curious" sherry with a most defi- 

 nite regard to such as have the honour of his acquaint- 

 ance. They have managed to kill at the back of the 

 Captain's house, and to bolt him subsequently ; and the 

 worthy host being no foxhunter himself, thinks if he can 

 get rid of the gentleman in " the Firs" by the same coup, 

 there may be some future saving of the ^'very curious" 

 in question. 



The Firs, "standing on a gentle eminence," as the 

 auctioneers have it, look invitingly handy ; the day is cer- 

 tainly not half gone, and old Closeshave stops with the 

 gate in his hand, ready to show the way — 



" Well, gentlemen, as you please, you know," repeats 

 the Master, with the quiet, good-tempered smile of one 



