Still Stubbs persevered, and, by dint of agitation, at length succeeded in getting Jorrocks not only to go out, but to have a draw in Newtimber Forest, Stubbs observing, and Jorrocks assenting that there would be very little more trouble in running the hounds through the cover than in trotting them along the road. And, with some misgivings, Jorrocks let Stubbs go to make the arrangements, while he applied himself vigorously to his letters.

A QUIET BYE.

Pigg was all eager for the fray, and readily came into Stubbs's suggestion, that they should go out, and just take their chance of finding a fox, and of his going to ground or not as luck and his courage served.

"Ar'll gan to'ard Duncan's, and get his grey for wor Ben," said Pigg, "gin ye'll set the lad on the saddle the rest; adding, "the Squi-er ar's warned 'ill ride Arterxerxes."

Off the Pigg went to Duncan Nevins, and returned with a woebegone looking horse in a halter, before Stubbs had made any progress in his department. Ben was not to be found. Neither at Mrs. Candy, the tart-woman's, nor at Mrs. Biffin's apple-stall, nor at Strap the saddler's, nor at any of the usual haunts, was anything to be heard of the boy. The fact was, he had been unable to resist a ride at the back of a return chaise passing along Juniper street, and being caught by his apron in the spikes, had been carried nearly to Copse Field before he got himself disentangled.

The oracle Gabriel having continued his monitions, Mr Jorrocks thought to make the absence of the boy an excuse for not going, but now having both Stubbs and Pigg ranged against him, he was soon driven from the attempt. Pigg said "Squi-er Stubbs wad do quite as weal as Ben," and Jorrocks, little loth at heart, perhaps, at length hoisted himself on to Arterxerxes with a swag that would have sent a light-carcassed horse over, letting the now smartly-clad Pigg ride the redoubtable Xerxes. So with Stubbs in

Bump, bump,-jog, jog, -on they went, Mr. Jorrocks now chiding, now coaxing, now dropping an observation fore or aft, now looking at the sky, and now at his watch.

"Des say we shall find pretty soon," observed Mr. Jorrocks, "for they tells me the cover has not been disturbed this long time, and there's lots of lyin'-nice, and dry, and warm-foxes like damp beds as little as Christians. Uncommon pretty betch, that Barbara,—like Bravery as two peas,-by Billin'sgate out o' Benedict, I think. Opes we may get blood; it'll do them a deal o' good, and make them steady for the Beef and Carrots. When we gets the 'ounds all on the square, we 'ill 'ave the great Mr. Pomponious Hego to come and give us a good hoiling. Nothin' like soap.

"Hooi! you chap with the turnipcart!" now roared our master to a cartman coming up; "vot do you mean by stickin' your great ugly wehicle right afore my 'ounds!-Mr. Jorrocks's 'ounds, in fact! I'll skin ye alive!" added he, looking at the man, who stood staring with astonishment. And again they went, bump, bump, jog, jog, at that pleasant post-boy pace, that has roused the bile of so many sportsmen, and set so many riders fighting with their horses.

At length they reached the cover side, -a long wood stretching up the sides of a gently sloping hill, and widening towards the summit. On the crown there stood a clump of Scotch firs and hollies, forming a landmark for many miles round. Turning from the high-road into a grass field on the right, the party pulled up to reconnoitre the ground, and make their final arrangements.

"Now," said Mr. Jorrocks, standing erect in his stirrups, and pointing with his whip, which had the effect of making half the pack break towards the cover,"Now," said he, as soon as he had got them turned, "this is a good big wood,two 'undred acres or more-and they tells me the foxes generally lie on the risin' ground, towards the clump. The vind's north-vest, so if we puts hin at this point, we shall draw up it, and p'rhaps get close

to the warmint at startin', which is a grand thing; but, howsomever, let's be doin'. Draw your girths, Pigg, or your 'oss 'll slip through his saddle. Now observe, there are three rides-one on each side, one on hup the middle, all leadin' to the clump; and there are cross ones in all directions; so no man need be 'fraid o' losin' himself. Now let's put in. Pigg, open the wicket."

"It's locked," observed Pigg, running the hammer of his whip into the rails, throwing himself off his horse and pulling a great clasp-knife out of his pocket as he spoke. "Sink, but it aye gars mar knife laugh to see a lock put upon leather," added he, as he drew the huge blade across the stiff band that secured the gate. Open flew the wicket-in went the pack with a dash, a crash, and a little music from the riotous ones, which gradually yielded to "Have a care!" and Gently, Wenus;" Gently, Lousey; " (Louisa), with the cracks of the whips of Mr. Jorrocks and his huntsman.

"Now, Pigg, my frind, let's have a touch o' north country science," observed Mr. Jorrocks, bringing his horse alongside of his huntsman. "I'd like well to kill a fox to-day; I'd praise you very much if we did."

Aye, aye," said Pigg. "Hoic in, Lousey Solid puddin's better nor empty praise. Have at him there, Statesman, old boy,-ye look like a finder. Deil bon me, but ar thought ar winded him at the crossin' there," added Pigg, pulling his horse short back to a cross ride he had just passed. "Hoic in there, Priestess, ould gal," said he, to an old black and white bitch, feathering round some gorse among the underwood, waving his hand as he spoke. “That's gospel, ar warrant ye," continued he, watching her move

ments.

"What will't take for t'ard nag?" inquired Pigg, of a besom-maker, who now came down the ride with a wretched white Rosinante, laden with stolen brushwood. "Have at him, there, Challenger!" speaking to a hound.

we want him to eat," replied Pigg. "Had still!" exclaimed he; ar has him !— TALLY HO!" roared Pigg, cramming his spurs into his horse, and dashing past Jorrocks like a shot. Out went both horns twang-twang-twang sounded Pigg's; wow! wow! wow! went Jorrocks's, in deeper and more substantial notes, and in a very short time the body of the pack were laid on the scent, and opened the concert with an overpowering burst of melody.

"Oh, beautiful! beautiful!" exclaimed Mr. Jorrocks, in rapture, as each hound put his nose to the ground, and acknowledged the correctness of the scent. "Oh, beautiful indeed!" added he, thumping the end of his horn upon his thigh, as though he were cutting large gun-waddings out of his breeches. "Ow true to the line! best 'ounds in England by far

never were such a pack! Shall have a rare Chevy-all alone to ourselves; and when I gets home I'll write an account to 'Bell's Life,' and 'The Field,' which nobody can contradict. Hark forrard ! hark forrard! hark forrard! away!" continued he, ramming the spurs into Arterxerxes's sides, to induce him to change his lumbering trot into a canter, which having accomplished, Mr. Jorrocks settled himself into a regular home seat in his saddle, and pounded up a grass ride through the centre of the wood in a perfect frenzy of delight, as the hounds worked their way a little to his right with a full and melodious cry.

"Hould hard, ye sackless ould sinner!" now cried Pigg, crossing the main ride at a canter, and nearly knocking Jorrocks off his horse, as he charged him in his stride. "Had (hold) bye, ar say!" he roared in his master's ear, or ar'll be dingin' on ye down-fox crossed reet in onder husse's tail, and thou sits glowerin' there and never see'd him."

66

Out went both the horns again-twang! twang !—twang; wow! wow! wow!

"Twenty shillin'," replied the man. "Gie ye eight!" was the answer. "Yooi, push him up!" to the hound. "Tak' twelve," rejoined the tinker. "Good horse-can get up of hisself, top puller and all!"