LAST SHIFTS. I7I 



We now must give them time. See where 

 they bend towards yonder furze-brake ! I 

 wish he may have stopped there ! Mind that 

 old hound, how he dashes over the furze ; I 

 think he winds him ! Now for a fresh en- 

 tapis ! — Hark! they halloo! — Ay, there he 

 goes ! 



It is near over with him : had the hounds 

 caught view he must have died. He will hardly 

 reach the cover. See how they gain upon him 

 at every stroke ! It is an admirable race ! yet 

 the cover saves him. 



Now be quiet, and he cannot escape us: we 

 have the wind of the hounds, and cannot be 

 better placed. How short he runs I — he is 

 now in the very strongest part of the cover. 

 What a crash ! every hound is in, and every 

 hound is running for him. That was a quick 

 turn ! Again another ! — he''s put to his last 

 shifts. Now Mischief is at his heels, and death 

 is not far off. Ha ! they all stop at once : all 

 silent, and yet no earth is open. Listen ! — now 

 they are at him again ! Did you hear that 

 hound catch view ? They had over-run the 

 scent, and the fox had lain down behind them. 

 Now, Reynard, look to yourself ! How quick 

 I 2 



