i66 THE RULING PASSION 



naturally choose the least, I think, being driven into the 

 corner, I should pick up some small unentered fox-hound 

 bitches from various kennels, about eighteen or nineteen 

 inches in height, and then commence breeding a pack 

 to my fancy, by crossing them with an old-fashioned 

 blue-mottled Towler. I should, of course, expect, with 

 such smart young ladies in their 'teens, uncommonly 

 wild work for the first season ; but by keeping silence 

 and letting them get through their first lessons without 

 assistance, the currant jelly would soon be found in 

 requisition. Very little trouble is required in breaking 

 young hounds to hare ; it is a sweet scent, and all dogs 

 wiU take to it naturally, rabbits being the only riot to 

 be avoided. 



A friend of mine, an old Master of Fox-hounds, some 

 few years since, took a whim into his head that he was 

 becoming too heavy to ride hunting, and accordingly 

 sold his pack at the end of the season ; but having no 

 other pursuit, he felt time hang heavy during the summer 

 months, and from lack of his usual ride in exercising his 

 hounds in the morning, he became exceedingly inactive 

 and sleepy, seldom breakfasting until nine o'clock, and 

 was gradually increasing in weight, from a cartload to 

 a waggon-load, when he was seized with a severe bilious 

 attack, and the doctor called in, who set to work with 

 calomel, blue pill, and the usual accompaniments of 

 black draught, &c. &c., at swallowing which my old 

 friend made woeful grimaces and wry faces, never before 

 having made much acquaintance with the contents of 

 a druggist's shop. Whilst undergoing this severe dis- 

 cipline, a sporting neighbour called to see him and inquire 

 the cause of his illness. 



" Egad, sir, I can scarcely tell myself," replied the 



