The Hunting Year 



in following his course in strong rabbit earths, 

 which are practically a network of underground 

 labyrinths. Hence the assistance of one or two 

 men who will keep their wits about them, and 

 think as well as listen and talk, is valued on 

 occasions like the present when getting the fox 

 means so much. So one or two of the remnant 

 of the field go to assist the first whipper-in, 

 who has already put the terrier in, and two 

 or three willing hands are busy with the 

 spades. 



The rain comes down in dreary monotony, 

 soaking, persistent rain, and cold withal, and 

 the thump of the spades as they occasionally 

 come across a root, the occasional " yap-yap " 

 of the terrier as his enemy and he come nearer 

 to the surface in the working, and now and 

 again the sharp bay of a young hound impatient 

 of delay, are the only sounds save the patter of 

 the rain on the leaves. 



Yet dismal as seem the surroundings to an 



untrained eye, the scene has a beauty which is 



all its own. Just look at the expectant pack 



for a moment. There, sitting in front of them 



62 



