HIS OWN PETARD 



CHAPTEE I 



The ardent spirits who had jumped the fence into the 

 tempting range of meadows which presented such a 

 charming expanse of galloping ground had been obliged 

 to pull up, for beyond the fence hounds could make 

 nothing of it. 



* If he'll only give them time ! ' young Hed worth 

 muttered, as he glanced towards the spot where Perkin- 

 son, the master, and Bob Couples, the huntsman, were 

 in colloquy ; but his fears, arising from too accurate a 

 knowledge of Perkinson's methods, were justified. The 

 eccentric M.F.H. cantered forward, Bob's horn summoned 

 the hounds, and off they set to cast in the direction in 

 which Perkinson, for some reason imperceptible to all 

 except himself, assumed that the fox had gone. 



' What's he at now ? ' Hed worth remarked to his 

 friend Charlton. ' Why can't he leave the hounds alone 

 for a moment and see what they think about it ? I'll 

 bet you 6 to 4 they don't pick it up ! ' 



' I'll bet you 6 to 1 if you like, or 16 for the matter 

 of that. My own impression is that the fox never 

 crossed the fence at all, and why the deuce he should 

 suppose it's gone on I can't guess.' 



