MY FIRST DAY'S FOX-HUNTING 135 



rear the cry of " Tally-ho back ! " The fox had 

 come back — doubled, I mean — and I was forced to 

 join the others and run after him again. But, for- 

 tunately for me, he did not run far before the dogs 

 caught him and killed him, and then one of the men 

 in scarlet cut off his nice long tail and gave it to 

 Emily. She actually accepted it, although I am 

 nearly sure she had never seen the man before in 

 her life ! I thought young ladies ought to accept 

 presents from no gentlemen but their relatives and 

 accepted suitors ; and, besides, I don't believe that 

 this man loas a gentleman, for when I whipped the 

 hound to make him get over the wall (which, as I 

 have before stated, he most unreasonably declined to 

 do), this fellow was the loudest in his oaths and 

 curses, which he showered broadcast on the hound, 

 or my horse, or something — I have never ascertained 

 what — and in the presence of ladies ! Emily said 

 something about making a hair-brush of the fox's 

 tail (what an absurd idea ! but she always was 

 queer) ; and as the man cut off the fox's head, she 

 gave me to understand that that would be mine if I 

 asked for it. I did ask for it ; but for some un- 

 accountable reason or other, I didn't get it. The 

 remainder of the poor fox was thrown to the dogs, 

 who soon tore him to pieces and ate him. It 

 occurred to my philosophic mind, as I witnessed 



