MY FIRST DAY'S FOX-HUNTING 127 



his skull cracked. All this happened in less than 

 a minute, and seemed to cause a " great sensation," 

 for two or three of the roughest of the men in 

 scarlet were instantly attacked with a fit of cursing 

 and swearing, of which I took no notice, believing 

 it to he lavished on the head of the unfortunate 

 hound. But I soon had my doubts ; for one of the 

 gentlemen in scarlet rode up to me, and with much 

 severity informed me that he could not have his 

 hounds " served in that way." I protested that it 

 was an accident, and that I thought " there could 

 be no harm in doing what the others did." With 

 this explanation he seemed quite satisfied, for he at 

 once left me, and even smiled as he did so. The 

 dog must have been a young one, for as I passed 

 two gentlemen who were doubtless discussing 

 puppies in general, and I suppose him in particular, 

 I overheard one of them say, " He's evidently 

 green." The dogs having got safely into cover, the 

 ladies and gentlemen began to ride along the out- 

 side of the wood — cover, I mean — and I did the 

 same, taking care, though, to keep well in the rear, 

 that I might see what the others did. I kept 

 clear of every one I could possibly avoid, as I 

 found that the people who hunted at Stonington 

 indulged in a peculiar kind of slang which I could 

 not well understand. I had not gene far before I 



