His Own Petard 91 



faction was great therefore at finding Hedworth's horse, 

 which had been sent on, being led to and fro, and at 

 seeing his master and Charlton trot up within three 

 minutes of his own arrival. Old Lopdell, com2:)laining of 

 rheumatics, was on a hairy-heeled cob ; the field was 

 exceptionally large, considering to what it had lately 

 shrunk. Bob Couples seemed thoughtful ; but Perkinson 

 was in high good humour, and wore, for him, quite a 

 cheerful look. 



There was a little wood within a couple of hundred 

 yards of the meet, and into this the pack was thrown 

 after the master had waited the full time, and even 

 allowed a few minutes' grace. A hound soon spoke, and 

 a second seemed inclined to confirm it ; but this was not 

 what was wanted. The breaking of a veritable fox would 

 have upset the little plot ; so Bob got to them, very quietly 

 whipped oft' the couple of hounds that thought they had 

 made a discovery, and took the pack to the other side of 

 the wood, to the spot where the drag was started. 

 Having heard the two hounds speak, the burst which 

 proclaimed a general acknowledgment appeared a natural 

 sequence, and everyone was ready. This looked like the 

 beginning of a good thing. The hounds were running 

 hard — as well they might — and led the way over the 

 first fence— a low hedge, to avoid which few cared to 

 turn off to the gate, though the little detachment which 

 is to be found in every field, and declines to jump on any 

 consideration, diverged slightly, and passed through the 

 welcome posts. It was long since hounds had gone such 

 a pace. Obviously this new addition to the limits of the 

 hunt w^as a valuable acquisition, for here was a straight- 

 necked fox racing over what was up to the present a 

 delightful country. Bob was not quite as forward as 



