AXD ITS RESULTS 203 



varmint in his nature, how can it fail to be other- 

 wise ?) would serve me in good stead, I station 

 myself near to him in order to have a good view of 

 " Mr Eeynolds/' as Jim calls the cunning animal, 

 when he breaks covert. Xor am I wrong in my con- 

 jecture ; for after a few pleasant notes from old 

 Bellman, who hits upon the place where Master Fox 

 crossed a ride early this morning, and a " hark to 

 Bellman " from Joe the huntsman, out jumps, 

 almost into Jim's arms, as fine a fox as ever wore a 

 brush. Master Reynard looks somewhat astonished 

 at being brought so suddenly face to face with a 

 two-legged monster, and seems half inclined to turn 

 back again to his hiding-place ; but, perhaps judging 

 from Jim's varmint look that no danger might be 

 apprehended from that quarter, and being warned 

 by the deep notes of old Bellman that his late 

 quarters were untenable, he throws back his head 

 as if to sniff the pleasant morning breeze, and giving 

 his brush a gentle wave of defiance, boldly takes to 

 the open, and starts across the field which surrounds 

 the covert at a good rattling pace. Gipsy Jim grins 

 from ear to ear with delight, showing his white 

 regular teeth, at the same time holding up his hand 

 as a warning to me to keep silence for a few seconds, 

 so as not to spoil sport by getting the fox headed 

 back. The moment, however, Master Eeynard is 



