34 The Old Surrey Fox Hounds 



was summoned to the Master's private room one evening, 

 and told to ride to Leadenhall Market for the purpose of 

 buying the finest fox he could find there. He was ordered 

 to be careful with him, as there were to be many swells 

 out next day at a lawn meet handy, and sport must be 

 made a certainty for them. Accordingly, Tom started 

 from the kennels, then at Shirley, rode post haste to 

 London, discovered the object of his inglorious pursuit, 

 and, having strapped him gingerly, deposited him, legs 

 upwards, in the capacious pocket of a large blouse which 

 he used to move cubs to any part of the country where 

 they were needed. 



Cantering back in the night, he was stopped on 

 Streatham Common by a highwayman who demanded, 

 with orthodox truculence, " Your money or your life ! ' 

 Tom's reply was characteristic. " I've got no money," 

 he said : " I'm only a servant, and as to my life, why, you 

 wouldn't take that surely — it isn't worth powder and shot." 



The ruffian persisted, however, but Tom's nerve and 

 pluck did not desert him. He thought of the fox which 

 he carried, and told his assailant that he would find money 

 in his pocket, indicating the one that contained the 

 treasure. A dive was at once made into it by the high- 

 wayman ; he was severely bitten, and while he was 

 howling in agony Tom cantered blithely away. His 

 remark was afterwards : "I could have downed him with 

 my old hunting whip, but I wanted to see a bit of sport." 

 The ruling passion, indeed ! — all his life he wanted to see 

 a bit of sport ; and he saw a lot. 



