THE AUTHOE IN A NOVEL POSITION. 97 



will mount you on the fastest hunter I ha^e in the 

 stable." 



These preliminaries being settled, I was installed 

 the next morning in my novel situation of half 

 huntsman, half whipper-in, with carte blanche from 

 the Master to act in either capacity, as oppor- 

 tunity offered ; and the result of our day's sport 

 was that a brace of foxes' heads were carried back 

 to the kennel ; and a pretty smart bespattering of 

 abuse on my head from some of the gents out, 

 for knocking over two of these dodging brutes in 

 one day. 



Some people — Hke children — are never satisfied. 

 Complaints had been previously made to Villebois 

 that the foxes were not killed, and when killed 

 they grumbled because they were killed. The 

 fact was, I believe, they were annoyed at a 

 stranger stepping in to help to finish them. Now, 

 as I went out for the express purpose of blooding 

 the hounds — having my instructions from the 

 Master what to do — I waited my opportunity, 

 and when that arrived stepped in to settle the 

 business. 



Our first fox had every chance to break, if he 

 would, in a certain direction ; for, after knocking 

 him about a large covert until the hounds were 

 sick of it, we got him into another smaller one 



H 



