A MINCING LANE M. F. H. G9 



how little one apprehends what is going to 

 happen. Suddenly, in the midst of our pacing 

 up and down, the commodore stopped, directed 

 my attention to some moving objects in the 

 distance away to the rights and by degrees we 

 made out the hunt approaching. Strictly speak- 

 ing, they were out of theii- own country, but 

 tliey were, of course, at liberty to follow their 

 fox wherever he led them, and here they came. 

 We made out some hounds, and as they drew 

 nearer I detected the object of pursuit stealing 

 over the ground a couple of fields in advance, 

 heading almost in our direction. 



'' Look ! " I said. " There's the fox. Do 

 you see ? " 



*'Yes, I see it; but — by Jove! look, just 

 look at it ! " cried the commodore, bursting into 

 a fit of laughter. "Poult will be the death of 

 me ! Do look at the procession ! " 



I did so, and saw, first of all -- 



The haee. 



Item, a couple of hounds.. 



Item, Poult, M. F. H. 



Item, three jealous friends in attendance. 



Item, two or three couple more hounds. 



Item, the field in general, Sutcliffe well up, 

 Toppler in the ruck. 



Item, the balance of the pack, straggling 



