An October Afternoon 



is old Warrior, who has seen many foxes dug 

 out in his time. Patient and expectant is the 

 old hound, thinking — if hounds do think, and 

 surely that wise old countenance of his is indica- 

 tive of thought — of many things, no doubt, but 

 with an eye that never for one second leaves 

 the body of workers in front of him. No sound 

 comes from him ; but scarcely quite so patient 

 is Merriman, an eager whine escaping from him 

 now and again. An impatient puppy or two 

 break the circle, and when there is a little " com- 

 motion " among the digging party, they make 

 a rush to the earth. The crack of the second 

 whipper-in's whip and his rate remind them of 

 duty and disciplinary methods. 



The digging has been going on for an hour, 

 and of late there has been every now and again 

 those little " bits of bustle," I scarcely know 

 how to describe them, which tell to the initiated 

 that the digging party are about at the end of 

 their labours. Suddenly there is a bit more 

 commotion than usual, and as the fox emerges 

 from the earth with Viper at his brush, he is 

 met by Warwick and Merriman, and their com- 



63 



