238 THE CREAM OF LEICESTEE8HIEE. [Skasox 



smitlis from before their furnaces or cooks from their fiery 

 ovens — and galloped, with blanched faces and parched lips, for 

 the hospitable Colonel's sideboard. This done, they all got the 

 wrong side of the wire fencing in the park ; and not one of them 

 was near hounds while the latter raced a fox to ground some 

 five or six minutes away. An M.F.H.* came across the pack, 

 as he pounded along on a galloping hack. The mare had been 

 bustled ten miles from home, and already was covered with 

 lather and foam. But she left the road with an easy bound, as 

 he turned her aside to the leading hound. An oxrail covered 

 the following fence, when he found he'd a hunter in every 

 sense. And so it's aiTanged with excellent reason, for a certain 

 Hunt in the coming season — If the Master be late at the 

 covert side, the liounds never wait till he finish his ride ; but 

 the huntsman at once shall open the ball, and drive the fox out 

 towards Harkaway Hall. 



I did not intend to rhyme, and I mean no offence. This 

 said, we may follow on over the Leicester and Lowesby road, 

 where the brief game has ended at a drain. Firr was soon 

 sounding a requiem over bold Keynard, as he lay probably 

 laughing in his brush ; and soon all the field had made their 

 way through a single hole in the high thorn bullfinch, and 

 were assembled in the meadow — explaining to each other b}' 

 what unheard-of combination of circumstance and mischance 

 eacli had for this once failed to be with liounds. While this 

 was going on, a butcher and his two companions (of striking 

 similarity of bulk and appearance), wishing to get a nearer 

 view of the animated picture, turned their cart out of the road, 

 and drove down the adjacent field. Dobbin may, or may not, 

 have followed the Quorn in some other capacity in early life. 

 Let this be as it may — no sooner did he see other steeds 

 jumping through the gap in the fence, than, cocking his ears 

 and entirely forgetful of his present circumstances, he took the 

 bit in his teeth and dashed at the hedge. The Jehu of the party 

 in vain threw his weiglit into the reins. His comrades gave 

 * Sir Bache Cunard. 



