The Hunting Year 



Whilst the Master was reading the Riot Act, 

 the huntsman had cast his hounds, and, 

 recovering the line, they hunted slowly — very 

 slowly for about five minutes — at the end of 

 which time they took the line into a covert of 

 some thirty or forty acres. I have always 

 thought it lucky that that covert was so handy ; 

 for, before the hounds got there the field was 

 beginning to press forward, and in another two 

 or three minutes, or perhaps in less time 

 hounds would have been driven over the line 

 again, and the inevitable order given for home. 

 But the covert was there, and with its oppor- 

 tune appearance the miseries of the day came 

 to a conclusion. Hounds only just picked out 

 a line into it, and for some time proceedings 

 were so slow that the impatient ones were talk- 

 ing amongst themselves about the futility of 

 attempting to hunt that fox any longer, and 

 suggesting that a fresh covert ought to be tried. 

 After the exploits of the morning, however, 

 they were rather careful about giving loud 

 expression to their opinion. 



Then came a driving shower of sleet, not a 

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