Lord Southampton. 165 



a very good run into the Pytchley country the 

 hounds came to a check, and the huntsman 

 was about to give it up. Lord Southampton, 

 knowing that Mr. Smith had hunted that 

 country, asked him where he thought was the 

 line of the fox. He pointed with his whip to 

 the most likely line ; and, on arriving there, 

 the hounds hit off the scent, and ran a few 

 miles further, still in the Pytchley country, 

 when they came to what the huntsman pro- 

 nounced to be a fatal check. Mr. Smith was 

 again asked by his lordship to point out the 

 line; which he did, indicating a large covert 

 well kno^vn to him. When the hounds reached 

 it, the himtsman looked so sulky, that his 

 lordship pressed Mr. Smith to hunt the hounds 

 for him. He declined this, but accompanied 

 the poor fellow through the covert, where they 

 shortly got on their hunted fox, and killed 

 him after a few minutes in the open. Lord 

 Southampton immediately jumped off his horse, 

 snatched up the fox, and thrust it into the 



