256 The Course, the Camp, the Chase 



and met the fox, dead beaten, who tried to get up the bank 

 out of the road. The fox was so exhausted that the tinker 

 caught it, and had just popped it into a bag, when the 

 hounds came up, which was the first that he knew of their 

 being in the neighbourhood. Though he was questioned as 

 to whether he had seen the fox, he had said " No," fearing 

 to get himself into trouble if he produced the fox in the 

 sack, but he took it to this farmer, as soon as the coast was 

 clear, and delivered it up to him. The fox, however, had 

 been run into the neighbouring country. Lord Middleton's, 

 and the etiquette of hunting, therefore, prevented the York 

 and Ainsty from having any claim upon it. The farmer 

 was accordingly directed to set it free, and it probably 

 returned immediately to its accustomed haunts. 



How the pack of those days comes again in fancy 

 before me ! " Layman," the apple of Sir Charles' eye, 

 one of the truest hunters, ever one of the foremost in 

 running, and never tired, but not a very powerful- 

 looking hound. He was used very much though as 

 a stallion hound, and transmitted much of his own 

 excellence to his progeny. He had one peculiarity — always 

 securing the fox's head when there was a kill, and 

 carrying it triumphantly till the next draw. In those 

 days it was not the fashion to attach the fox's mask to 

 the whip's saddle, as is now the case. When " Layman's " 

 son, " Villager," however, joined the pack, he ousted his 

 father from his position, and took the fox's head himself. 

 " Villager " was a remarkably fine, muscular hound, and 

 it was at my special request that he was not drafted, on 

 account of being too big, when the puppies came in from 

 walk. I had known him well, and had a great fancy 

 for him, both on account of his good looks, and because 



