i86 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



able day. These were the triumph of Dr. Johnson in 

 getting us all within his trap-farm — penning the Master 

 and most of us therein till hounds were miles away, and, 

 moreover, spinning three or four unwitting strangers over 

 his boasted steel hawser. Secondly, the suffering we all 

 inflicted upon ourselves by enveloping our bodies — half 

 frozen by the chill air of yesterday — in the warmest 

 clothing we could muster. Saturday turned out warm 

 and oppressive, and we fairly sweltered during the mid- 

 day gallop. Dismissing such minor discomforts, 1 take 

 leave to post you in the upper ride of Warden Hill, or 

 rather of its comfortless-looking brake of dripping bramble 

 and thorn, and dead, wet fern. Hence was the gallop in 

 question. 



Hounds had wandered through it for some minutes, 

 and soliloquy on the uninviting aspect of the covert had 

 just passed one's lips, when Lord Chesham was seen 

 hurriedly to collect his pack and brush through the 

 turnip - field above. " Something up, surely ! A fox, 

 probably ! " And all who rode within the covert pricked 

 up their ears, and worked their way out also. But for 

 two fields hounds gave no sign ; and it was not till they 

 were over the brow and descending the green valley towards 

 Eydon that the Master could endorse his information with 

 horn and cheer. 



Then the little ladies proclaimed a scent, darting across 

 the open as if for Eydon Covert. But at the brook of 

 that name our fox had turned sharp to the right, and, 

 running one bank or the other, apparently set himself to 

 work thus to shake off pursuers. With the section that 

 go upon horseback he met, doubtless, with more than 

 average success ; but his course made no difference what- 

 ever to the merciless ladies shaking their wet sides and 

 flinging their fierce tongues in his wake, as they crossed 

 and recrossed the stream — a stream that to us is one of 

 our most substantial bugbears, fair and, on the whole, 

 honest though it be. 



My little tale would be nothing but for this brook, and 

 the ride would doubtless have had but half its incident. 

 Of course I did not notice one quarter, and most of that 



