196 FIELD AND FERN. 



across the fields once more^ to get to the Kule. They 

 marked him to a stronghold at Bedrule ; but the 

 gamekeeper told the Doctor that they might dig till 

 Christmas, and be no nearer to him. Then we drew 

 Wells, and there was music once more for a few 

 minutes ; but it was only the remnant of an over- 

 night drag, and we were glad to take refuge from the 

 heat under the canopy of the giant beeches. The 

 world was now up and doing once more, and the 

 turnip-women leant on their hoes, and looked in 

 wonderment at the posse comitatus as it swept by. 

 We were so hot and parched, that it seemed as if 

 w^e had been at work for hours, but it was only six 

 o^ clock. 



Then we sauntered back down the Rule, over 

 trunks of trees and amongst boulders and through 

 farmyards, till we were in the Teviot once more ; but 

 the fan of the day was over. The horsemen stuck 

 on well, and there was a ceaseless splash, as at least 

 forty of them followed the Doctor up-stream. There, 

 too, was a lad on the bare-backed donkey, who had 

 been in front all day ; but we looked in vain for the 

 brave trio who hunted in the gig, and were so great 

 at Spittal Ford. The sun got up, and our spirits went 

 down. Ringwood, Teddy, and Billy would have no- 

 thing to do with it at Lanton Cauld or Manselaws 

 Hutches, a perfect Mamelon of otters, when they are 

 not away fishing at the lochs or getting into traps on 

 the Tweed. At Spittal Bank they spoke to it but 

 very feebly, and Billyhs depressed manner, when lu 



