An October Afternoon 



they had been disappointed owing to the care- 

 lessness of a man who was well paid to do the 

 earth-stopping. So Smith's remarks to Jones, 

 Brown, and Robinson did not meet with the 

 approval of these worthy gentlemen, but they 

 did soothe the ruffled feelings of our huntsman, 

 who said, on talking over the case with his 

 fellows, that " that young Mr Smith showed 

 some feeling for hounds and had a deal of sense, 

 and he had no doubt would make a good sports- 

 man some day." 



Then came more disappointing work. Foxes 

 were found, but in a few minutes they managed 

 to run hounds out of scent. Things from the 

 huntsman's standpoint were looking black in- 

 deed, when in the afternoon they went to draw 

 Holtfield Spinneys. The day had made little 

 if any improvement. Several of the field, tired 

 out by the continued bad sport and the heavy 

 showers, had gone home. " And a good thing 

 too," said the huntsman, " they would prob- 

 ably have spoilt my chance of killing by 

 halloaing a fresh fox. Not that there's much 

 chance now." 



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