Lord Spencer s Mastership, 2 r i 



" Picea/' it is certain tliat a fox is '^ bad " to catch within 

 the circuit of this well-known cover. As if aware of his 

 comparative safety, Reynard is ever loth to quit this 

 haven of security, and if he does so, is only too ready to 

 return. He seems to think that a journey to the 

 pheasantry or to Dallington village and back is as much 

 as can be reasonably expectecl of him ; and he moreover 

 has become painfully aware that "' to be or not to be '' 

 hinges upon his regaining the heath he left so im- 

 prudently. He well knows that there are others of the 

 same complexion with himself, who should ta.ke their 

 share of the danger impending over him, and he is also 

 well aware that there is that within his ancient haunts 

 which baffles his pursuers and impedes their course. But 

 if on some March morning a stranger from a distant cover 

 be disturbed in his love-making, and incontinently makes 

 tracks for his far-off home, a gallop may be looked for 

 with some degree of confideuce. With one circuit round 

 the bowers of bliss, he bids farewell to the abode of his 

 lady-love and is off, maybe for Cottesbrooke, or for Sywell 

 Wood. Better for him had he never forsaken the spot, 

 where his footfall left little or no sig-n. With Brampton 

 village well behind him, he stops for a moment to look 

 and listen, and to catch his breath. He sees nothing 

 but the flock of sheep, through which he had purposely 

 passed, clustering under a hedge, and some white-faced 

 bullocks excitedly cantering oif in the same direction. 

 All is silent for a brief while, and he begins to think that 

 the danger is over. Suddenly the well-known sound of 

 the horn again fills the air, and his heart seems to thump 

 against his sides. He feels that at no great distance off 

 his pursuers are thirsting for his blood, and that he must 



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