CHAPTER II 



Twice-told Tales never before written. — A Curiosity in Natural 

 History. — The Fox who had lost his Tail. — Sir Lewen Glynn in the 

 Saddle. — A Model Fox Covert. — Five Miles in Twelve Minutes. — 

 Performances of old John Warde's Pack. — Testimonials of the 

 right sort. — A Page from the Libro d'Oro. 



" A southerly wind and a cloudy sky 

 Proclaim a hunting morning ; 



Before the sun rises we nimbly fly, 



Dull sleep and a drowsy bed scorning. 



To horse, my boys, to horse, away 1 



The chase admits of no delay ; 

 On horseback we've got, together we'll trot, 

 On horseback we've got, together we'll trot. 



Leave ofiE your chat, see the cover appear ; 



The hound that strikes first, cheer him without fear ; 

 Drag on him, ah ! wind him, my steady good hounds I 

 Drag on him, ah 1 wind him, the cover resounds ! " 



Old Song. 



I MIGHT fill volumes with our runs, which would be of 

 little interest to those unacquainted with our country ; 

 but a few may be cursorily mentioned from my note- 

 book, as proving that our hounds could run as well as 

 hunt. 



" Three o'clock, p.m. Found a fox in Greatwood, 

 which, after a turn round the covert (more than one 

 hundred acres), went away towards Vastern ; being 

 headed, the hounds turned short with him, and kept 

 close to his brush until he again reached Greatwood, 

 through which they rattled him into the Dauntsey Vale 

 below ; over this they went at a tremendous pace, crossing 



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