202 THE FIRST DAY OF THE SEASON 



allshire Muggers) as we would wish to see them, 

 yet manage somehow to get across the country, 

 and to be with their hounds ; though for the 

 matter of that, such is the sagacity of the Easy- 

 allshire pack, they can very frequently do quite as 

 well without the assistance of their ruler and guide 

 as with it. The Easyallshire Hunt, as the name 

 implies, is an easy-going sort of concern, in which 

 every man, gentle and simple, has a finger in the 

 pie ; every subscriber imagining tliat he has a perfect 

 right, on the strength of his subscription, to hunt, 

 whip-in, or otherwise direct the movements of the 

 hounds whenever opportunity occurs. But for-rard ! 

 for-rard on 1 or I shall be at the fourth milestone on 

 the Surlyford road all day, instead of drawing that 

 inviting piece of gorse covert which lies so pleasant 

 and warm, with its southern aspect on yonder bank. 

 A guinea to a gooseberry, a fox lies there 1 



Joe, the huntsman, now trots along through the 

 somewhat bare and brown pasture fields towards the 

 covert ; the pack, eager and keen for the fray, 

 clustering round the heels of his horse. A few 

 moments only elapse, and the sea of gorse is alive 

 with hounds poking here, there, and everywhere, 

 seeking the lair of sly Reynard. Old experience 

 having taught me tliat Gipsy Jim's knowledge of 

 the fox and his habits (for being half-brotlier to tlie 



