ButatlastJorrocksisthere,andthehoundstrotofftocover。
Sodullhasbeeneverythingonthismorningthateventhatissomething,andmenbegintomakethemselveshappierinthewarmthofthemovement。Thehoundsgointocovert,andaperiodofexcitementiscommenced。Ourfriendwholikeshuntingremarkstohisneighbourthatthegroundisrideable。Hisneighbourwhodoesn\'tlikeitquitesowellsaysthathedoesn\'tknow。Theyremainstandingclosetogetheronaforestridefortwentyminutes,butconversationdoesn\'tgobeyondthat。Themanwhodoesn\'tlikeithaslitacigar,butthemanwhodoeslikeitneverlightsacigarwhenhoundsaredrawing。
Andnowthewelcomemusicisheard,andafoxhasbeenfound。Mr。
Jorrocks,galloppingalongtheridewithmanyoaths,imploresthosearoundhimtoholdtheirtonguesandremainquiet。Whyheshouldtroublehimselftodothis,asheknowsthatnoonewillobeyhisorders,itisdifficulttosurmise。Orwhymenshouldstandstillinthemiddleofalargewoodwhentheyexpectafoxtobreak,becauseMr。Jorrocksswearsatthem,isalsonottobeunderstood。OurfriendpaysnoattentiontoMr。Jorrocks,butmakesfortheendoftheride,goingwithearserect,andlisteningtothedistanthoundsastheyturnupontheturningfox。Astheyturn,hereturns;and,splashingthroughthemudofthenowsoftenedground,throughnarrowtracks,withtheboughsinhisface,listeningalways,nowhoping,nowdespairing,speakingtonoone,butfollowingandfollowed,hemakeshiswaybackwardsandforwardsthroughthewood,tillatlast,wearywithwishingandworking,herestshimselfinsomeopenspot,andbeginstoeathisluncheon。Itisnowpasttwo,anditwouldpuzzlehimtosaywhatpleasurehehasasyethadoutofhisday\'samusement。
Butnow,whiletheflaskisyetathismouth,hehearsfromsomedistantcornerasoundthattellshimthatthefoxisaway。Heoughttohavepersevered,andthenhewouldhavebeennearthem。