CONCLUSION
One more friend was about to begin his story. Whether he was from York, Lincoln, Nottingham, or Bedfordshire, was not ascertained, for on a sudden we were startled by the cawing of an old crow and the screams of a jay, which, added to the chatterings of a couple of magpies, warned us that daylight was appearing; and I was reluctantly obliged to request that his story might be deferred to some future time, should we ever meet again, when we might all have more to relate concerning the inexhaustible subject of our lives. Chanticleer now clapped admiring wings, and sang out a loud applause. This excited the particular notice of one of our party, who exclaimed, “I’ll go round and have a sly bite at his tail, for ’tis a quiet retired place, and no one yet about.”
“Take heed,” said I, “that thou bring us not into trouble.”
Soon afterwards we were again interrupted by the clamour of those tell-tale birds; for it seems that our friend was returning without his intended booty, having been seen by the keeper, who fast approached towards us. Therefore, hastily bidding adieu until we should meet again, we all returned to our favourite coverts.
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FOOTNOTES
[1] If this were attended to in making artificial earths, it would be an advantage to the fox, who might then defend himself better from dogs of every sort; the great point is to have the entrance only just sufficiently high for him to get in.
They should be so arranged that the breeding places are situated higher than the entrances, so that water may run away; and when it is necessary to make the earth on level ground, the breeding places should be on the surface, and covered over with earth, so as to form a mound.
The places for breeding should be formed in a circle, in order that they may be more easily arched, like an oven, without having wood supports.
The passages should be floored with bricks or flints, to prevent rabbits from digging.
It is desirable to have the low passages not more than seven inches high, to exclude dogs. Four-inch work at the sides is sufficient, except for a foot or two at the entrance.
[2] The Author.—Ed.
[3] To Mr. Osbaldiston belonged, par excellence, the title of “the Squire.”—Ed.
[4] Stephens was huntsman of the Warwickshire, not the Atherstone, pack.—Ed.
[5] Captain Trelawney.—Ed.
[6] Father of the present Earl of Wemyss. He continued to hunt this country till about 1868.
[7] The late Mr. Robertson of Ladykirk.—Ed.
[8] Williamson was pensioned off in 1865 and died a year or two later. Shore, who succeeded him, still carries the horn.—Ed.