The Hunting Year 



Holtfield Spinneys held a fine lot of strong 

 cubs, and hounds kept them moving about in 

 the coverts for about half an hour — not pressing 

 them exactly, but keeping them moving on if 

 they wanted to keep out of the way. Then a 

 fox broke covert, and the moment hounds 

 touched the line on the grass they raced along 

 cheerily, and as the huntsman thrust his horn 

 into the case, he looked more cheerful than he 

 had done for some time. In half a mile, how- 

 ever, up went their heads, and they came to a 

 check for no perceptible reason. Old Valentine 

 feathered on the line, " gave him the key," as 

 the huntsman said, and he held hounds forward 

 for a few fields, one or two of the old ones 

 feathering on the line now and again. Then 

 came a heavy, squally shower, and after it had 

 passed over, scent improved and they hunted 

 on nicely, though only at a slow pace for some 

 distance. Another squall caused another check, 

 but it was soon over, and patience, combined 

 with the fact that there were only a few of the 

 field left, and that these did not press hounds, 



got them on the line again. They hunted on 



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