SPORT IN THE SHIRES 269 



pack. Some one has caught sight of the leading hounds, 

 knows that they don't say much, squares his shoulders, 

 catches his horse by the head, and races away up the 

 field. Presently a loud chorus of shouts from the 

 road marks the passage of the fox across it. 



Up to this point the chase might or might not have 

 grown into a first-rate run, but at the top of the hill 

 the body of the pack are off the line and swing them- 

 selves away to the right in their endeavour to pick 

 it up. Alas, two jealous silent little bitches have 

 held on into the next valley. Some one tells the 

 huntsman, and he holds the main body of the pack 

 over the road which runs right along the top of the 

 ridge, and, as they reach the descent beyond, the 

 hounds acknowledge the line. But with two hounds 

 ahead it can never be more than a hunt now. In the 

 meantime the fields have reached the first fence, a 

 stiff blackthorn mended here and there with rails ; 

 and some crash through it, some clear the rails, one 

 man breaks the top bar and the less adventurous choke 

 the place in a moment. 



By the time we are over the ridge the hounds are 

 down in the valley and the field has assumed the 

 shape of a cone, at the apex of which is the huntsman 

 and master, two well-known polo players, and other 

 members of the hunt, each by this time settled into his 

 usual place. At some farm buildings in the hollow 

 comes a check, and there we pick up the two skirters 

 that were by themselves. Now the reunited pack 

 hunt prettily up the fields, opening out like a fan 

 and closing again as they touch the line. There is 

 neither dwelling nor pausing ; everything is done at 

 a gallop. The huntsman watches quietly, for he knows 

 quite weU that he cannot do more for them than they 

 are doing for themselves. But they are silent, and 



