A PREFACE AT HOME AND ABROAD. 7 



one. But hounds swung past it at once ; and, leaving- 

 the rough deep plough behind, emerged on to a 

 succession of firm green fields. A strong ash pole was 

 bound high across the only gap in a first tall bullfinch — 

 and had not the whip and some generous bystander 

 flung their combined weight on it till it broke, the rest of 

 the scurry might have been a blank page to us all. 

 Then the railway, with its two white gates opening like 

 magic to the Sesame of the hound music. Blessed 

 platelayer ! Gladly would we tip you — had v;c time 

 and had we money. Hounds arc driving forward to a 

 screaming scent ; horses are stretched to their utmost ; 

 and October condition is beginning to speak in language 

 unmistakable. Open water glitters in front — maybe a 

 very Jordan — and they take but little notice of water in 

 these parts. Ah, 'tis but an eight foot stream that 

 would not frlo-hten us even in Leicestershire — and we 

 may follow the huntsman. Colonel Molyneux, and Lord 

 Henry Bentinck as nearly as we can. For to cling to 

 the huntsman's skirts — while country and courage serve 

 you — is no bad recipe for seeing a run in a strange land. 

 The huntsman is not likely to know anything of the 

 kindly part he is thus fulfilling ; and on the whole I 

 should say it may be as well not to ask his formal 

 permission, still less that of his master. But, depend 

 upon it, he is, in any country and quite nine times out of 

 ten, as near to hounds as anyone should be, and ihus if 

 you can keep him in sight, you arc pretty certain to see 

 a good deal of the sport. 



Scarcely, now, was the little brook crossed, when 



