TYPICAL CUB-HUNTING 285 



seems literally not worth the candle you are burning, it is 

 during that half-hour when cub-hunting kit is being dragged 

 on, when mislaid gloves and whips are being sought in 

 dark corners and ill-temper, when you are waiting for 

 coffee — and wishing you had the pluck to go to bed. 

 There may be romance in the gloaming of eve ; there is 

 nought but self-pitying depression in the half-light before 

 morn, when the wind is blowing cold and the sky is draped 

 with black, funereal cloud crape. This is the hour, it may 

 cheer you to remember, that, from some inexplicable 

 motive of refined cruelty, is selected by the executive of 

 our gracious and merciful King for bidding any con- 

 demned malefactor prepare himself to step forth to the 

 scaffold and the rope. Do you feel as if you could " die 

 game " at such a time ? Bah ! You have drifted into this 

 vein of thought because, sir, you are now paying for 

 your overnight fun. When you were cackling over that 

 crowning jest as the clock struck twelve, the huntsman had 

 been peacefully fox-killing in his sleep for hours past, or 

 was even then perhaps muttering in his missis' ear, ''Don't 

 make a noise ! Ye-et Rarpid, good beetch ! Hi-ky-kyk ! " 



[And, by now, he and his assistants are sauntering to 



[covert, merry in their hearts as crickets, though they are 

 Joing out to work, and you, forsooth, to play. Well, if it 

 ,'ere your business, doubtless you would be able to do the 



[same. As it is, they have the best of you ; and you 

 :onfess it to yourself with sorrow, and perhaps with a 

 jhade of self-contempt. 



The scene of Saturday morning's work was Grafton 



[Park, another beautiful woodland belonging to the Duke 



*of Buccleuch. The turf-rides of Grafton Park, greatly 

 benefited on .this occasion by yesterday's heavy thunder- 



[storms, enable one to be near hounds almost continually. 

 md those at the northernmost end, being arranged in 

 starfish fashion, allow the spectator to remain stationary 



|[while witnessing all that is taking place in the vicinity. As 

 le cubs were born and brought up somewhere close 

 lere, you are in a position to find your share in cub- 

 hunting made easy ; for you have only to stand in one spot 

 while the chase revolves round you, and the eight rays of 



