186 Memoir of Tom Smith, 



wliat I remembered of Tom Smith's usual per- 

 severing and unremitted endeavours to find 

 Lis fox. 



^^ Have a little patience," said the gentle- 

 man whom I addressed ; '•' I'll be bound for it 

 he has some object in view, and knows right 

 well what he is about. I shouldn't wonder if 

 he has an eye to Stoke Down, and to the fox 

 there, which beat him a short time ago." 



My fi'iend's prognostications proved cor- 

 rect ; and to Stoke Down Gorse we now trot- 

 ted rapidly away. Here I recognised at once 

 Tom Smith of former days. Amidst an appa- 

 rently boundless extent of stiff unyielding 

 furze immediately dashed in the huntsman 

 and his whips. All their efforts were, how- 

 ever, long of no avail : there was, apparently, 

 not even the slightest appearance of a drag — 

 nothing, imder the withering influence to 

 scent, of a hot sun and dry easterly wind, to 

 encourage the gallant pack in breasting the 

 formidable thorny clievaiix de frize impeding 



