42 THE LIFE OF A FOX,

not far off; but the noise ceased just about the
spot where I turned down the road, and all was
silent for some time. At last I heard the voice
of Sawyer the whipper-in, saying he must take
the hounds home to the kennel, if his horse
would enable him; but that the huntsman’s and
the other whipper-in’s horses were both done ;
and so they were, for they never lived to reach
their stable. |
Having again escaped from that clever hunts-
man Foster and his pack, I at first determined
to remain in this part of Sussex. It was hunted
by Colonel Wyndham, whose hounds I soon had
reason to know were not less fatal than those by
which I had lately been so severely hunted. They
seemed to me to be quicker in their work, and
to keep closer to me when it was a good scenting
day; although when it happened to be otherwise
they could not hunt me so long or so far as the
other pack had done. Once or twice when I
was nearly tired they left me, owing to the scent
being bad, and went to find another fox, when
I believe that Foster and his pack would have