110 SPORTING ADVENTURES OF 



got their second horses, the head grooms from the 

 other hunt having followed the Captain's, and the 

 joint masters' servants were there already. 



Spraggon was quickly on the back of The Dandy; 

 but he was hardly up before a view halloa was given 

 in a field below them, and a hat held up proclaimed 

 their fox was ahead of them. 



" It's all right, Slowman," said Captain Martain- 

 gail, as the hounds feathered on the line and took 

 it up. 



" He's right away across the Tornops," shouted 

 a keeper-looking man (this was Towler, who had 

 shaken the fox out) as the field came up, " an' 

 a-going like blue murder." 



The hunting was now not quite so fast, but they 

 got on better terms with their fox after a little, and 

 settled well to him. 



A good stout fox he was too, and deserved a 

 better fate. He led them right into his own 

 country, but before he could reach a friendly earth, 

 seven or eight miles from where he was shook out, 

 the hounds ran into him in the open. 



Some eight or ten of the field were in at the 

 finish, and others came up at intervals. 



" Here, gentlemen," exclaimed Slowman triumph- 

 antly, to the strangers from a distance, " this is one 

 of your foxes. I guess we sent him back to you 



