44 EACECOUESE AND COVERT .SIDE. 



another to see wlio was going first ; while one 

 youth, taking in the position of affairs, remarked 

 with the most guileless innocence, " I fancy this 

 is the shortest way?" and straightway pulled 

 aside out of the line altogether. 



Before we reach Ringwood's furze, however, 

 up jumps an old hare and off he goes up the 

 hill, past a boy scaring crows, who frightens him 

 farther up the incline, and away we scurry. Cobb 

 has by this time settled down in the saddle, and 

 as he goes at a gentle gallop he waves his arms 

 and legs about like a windmill in a breeze, till a 

 bit of a jolt in a furrow suddenly checks his 

 ardour, straightens his smiling features in a 

 moment, and makes him lay hard hold of his 

 horse's mouth. 



The pack struggle over and through a hedge 

 into a cottage garden, and there is a stalwart, 

 middle-aged womaii standing in a doorway and 

 laying about her with a broom, while a little boy 

 holds on to her gown and yells lustily. 



'' Nasty, dirty dogs rushing like wild beasts 

 over a body's garden, and frightening the children 

 out of their seven senses!" she cried, as she 

 swept at one hound and gave another a side blow 

 with her broom. "You ought to be ashamed of 

 yourself, Mr. Cobb, so you ought, and you a 

 family man, too ! " 



