144 PINK AND SCARLET 



thar" of the Huntsman, encouraging the owners of 

 those expressive sterns to find their fox ? 



Hold hard! or enthusiasm for the Image will 

 over-ride that for the Real. What a comfortable 

 bivouac might be made on the heather-covered 

 ground under those pines, whose lower branches 

 would be excellent for making shelters. What — 

 No ! enough of this for the present, for surely 

 those hounds are showing a line across the ride 

 about a hundred yards up ? 



Ah ! there's a whimper. Now a challenge. The 

 Huntsman sits silent and still. Again Somerville 

 bests us in description — 



" Hark ! on the drag I hear 

 Their doubtful notes, preluding to a cry 

 More nobly full, and swelled with every mouth." 



Another challenore. The Huntsman cheers it — 

 •' Hoick, Batchelor." 



We are in touch with the enemy's outposts. 



A crash of canine music. 



We are engaging his picquets ! and it's a case 

 of— 



" Stand to your horses ! It's time to begin : 

 Boots and saddles ! the picquets are in." 



Ah ! there he goes over the ride just in front of 

 us; a jolly-looking, bright-coated fellow, too. Now 

 we may open our mouths and holloa " Taa-leo 

 over" if we like, and if there is no Hunt Servant 

 near by to do it. 



The pack come crashing after him ; we must 



