200 FIELD AND FERN. 



down the Jed ; but the mill-dam, and the deep black 

 pools under rocks which are tenanted with countless 

 wood-pigeons, knew him not that morning, and the 

 horsemen who rode for points and met us, got fairly- 

 wearied out. Seven miles were over, and Ringwood 

 began to fancy there that he " smelt a Lollard in the 

 wind^' at last. Into the water he went to complete 

 his commentaries, and tried for a broken air-bell, but 

 in vain. The whole pack took the hint without a 

 word being said to them, and for half-a-mile they 

 were feeling for the drag by the river side. Malak- 

 hoif^s great white stern went waving like a banner, 

 and yet he dare not speak, 



" There was silence deep as tleath, 

 And the Doctor held his breath 

 For a time." 



It was quite agony not to cheer Bellman, as they 

 turned short, and the young dog went to the front;, 

 led them to a gate in a clover field, but not one yard 

 beyond, and then back to the river, where one loud 

 burst of melody round a tree-root proclaimed the 

 marking to groun d. Billy was of course field-marshal^ 

 and a very grimy one with his exertions, while Malak- 

 hoff stood like a white statue on the root-top, with one 

 eye on Billy and the other down-stream. It was 

 pretty close quarters, as Old John ^' received on the 

 nose.^' In vain did the Doctor dash into the stream, 

 and call off his dogs by a feint ; in vain did " did 

 the darlings follow me just like a hrood of young 

 ducks'' ; in vain did Walter stamp on the earthy 



