228 AN UNWELCOME VISITOR. 



heard the guns going in and about the home 

 woods, when, thinking the time had arrived for his 

 appearance on the scene of action, he set spurs to 

 his horse, riding furiously, to make it appear he 

 had arrived with a blown horse, as if from a con- 

 siderable distance. 



The first blast of old Trueman's horn as he 

 neared the covert sent Killfox into the thickest 

 part of the wood, where he lay perdu, leaving the 

 under-keepers to encounter Trueman's anger, which 

 burst forth with dire anathemas against master 

 and men, when he beheld his hounds lying dead 

 before him. After venting imprecations on the 

 head of one of the understrappers he met in the 

 drive, who merely pleaded in defence his master's 

 orders, Trueman rode direct to the house, and 

 giving a rattling pull at the hall bell, demanded to 

 see Mr. Bragg. 



" Not at home, su," was the servant's reply. 



" He 18 at home !" roared Trueman ; "a sneak- 

 ing, cheating, cowardly blackguard ! Let me 

 catch him, and I will horsewhip him within an 

 inch of his life for killing my hounds !" 



" Not at home, sir," again replied the tall foot- 

 man, very demurely. 



" Very well, sir," said Trueman ; " then tell 

 him, with my compliments, I'll draw his dirty 



