96 AN HOUn ^YITH .\ PRESII FOX. 



*' Have him out by all manner of means ; — I'm 

 good for an hour's work with pick-axe and shovel, 

 it will clear the mist from my eyesight." 



" No, no, Squire, it won't do — the place is too 

 strong — we will go and find another the other side 

 of the hill, to put Sir Wheeler in good humour, 

 with a gallop." 



After another hour with a fresh fox and a 

 freshening breeze — the liot breeze of the morning 

 was entirely forgotten — we all returned home 

 together in good spirits and good fellowship as 

 before. 



It was, I think, that same autumn, before regu- 

 lar hunting commenced, that in returning from 

 London I took Benham in my road, intending to 

 stay only one night there ; when after dinner, 

 Villebois, objecting to my flying visit, begged me 

 to remain another day. On my demurring to his 

 proposition, he said, " We have been rather un- 

 lucky lately in handling our foxes, and I wish you 

 would go out with us to-morrow, and help to kill 

 one." 



" Well," I said, " if such is your wish, and you 

 think I can assist you, I will remain with pleasure, 

 although I had intended hunting with my own 

 hounds the day after." 



" I am quite in earnest," was his reply, " and 



