332 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Skasox 



the inulergi'owtli, with the noise of a deer. His Avhite mask 

 confronts you like an apparition. The hthe bod}- flashes aside 

 Avith a wave of a brush that looks broken, if not bare, at half 

 its length. You may have seen many a fox before, and evt-r}' 

 one of them gave 3'ou a tingle, if you are fit to go out fox- 

 hunting. But there is a dash, a devil, about this ugly-faced 

 fellow that makes you gi-ij) the saddle at once. Iloimds are 

 bustling after him almost before you can scream ; and the 

 huntsman flings them on to his back to a tune that ought to 

 have pierced even such a breeze. Splashing and trotting down 

 the covert you may be through a little handgate as quick as 

 any others of the down-wmd division ; but already hounds are 

 swinging beyond a new-sown wheatfield. The proprietor is 

 one who has hot moments, but in cool blood allows himself a 

 substantial interest in the chase. AVho knows ? this may be 

 one of his hot moments ! 'J'ruth often hits hard — when well 

 worded. A pitchfork might hit harder still ; and there's a 

 great brawn}- fellow running between the jiack and you. Hope 

 he can't sta}' over the plough! AVill your 3'oung 'un face the 

 brook at the bottom ? liucky, by Jove, you put on the spurs 

 icith rowels this morning. This is better. You are on turf 

 now, and there's not half as much danger in front as a'ou 

 imagined when behind. ]{ather a cropper than cold steel any 

 day. But the pack are a full field ahead, and a dozen of 

 the dark-draped wet weather field between you and them. 

 Hounds have got away all but in view, and Firr's signalling 

 horn could have been but a passing shaft up the wind. Hurry 

 along the grass, turn as short as you can into stubble, galloi> 

 a cart track, and there you are — pulled up short at a locked 

 gate which Firr has just skimmed and which has brought up 

 all others aghast. Eight Turn. I>fft "Wheel — a little fence 

 and a bigger one — the latter really only big because the man 

 just before you worked elbows and heels, made his horse jump 

 a stride too soon, and frightened you terribly in the effort. 

 Pddge and furrow next — hounds increasing their advantage as 

 they go — Firr popping over the fences in their wake — Captain 



