136 Memoir of Tom Smith. 



They got on the scent, which happened to be 

 very good; and they ran their fox in the open 

 for nearly an hour, when they killed liim. 

 Seeing two men on horseback in the wood, the 

 Master blew his horn repeatedly, until one of 

 them came up, who proved to be Lord Spen- 

 cer's head-keeper. He began regretting that 

 ^^Mr. King" was not there to see the finish; 

 and, in answer to an inquiry as to who that 

 might be, he replied, ^'My lord's old hunts- 

 man, and the best that ever was." Just after 

 the hounds had eaten their fox, John King 

 rode up, got off his old gray horse, and walked 

 about wiping his forehead, and exclaiming, 

 ^^ Well, this is wonderful !" for, of course, the 

 whole country well knew that this was an un- 

 tried pack, &c. Then addressing the Master, 

 he declared that he would write that very night 

 to Lord Spencer and inform him of all that 

 had happened. He was as good as his word; 

 for two days afterwards Mr. Smith had a most 

 friendly letter from Lord Spencer, saying that, 



