A day on which that peculiar2 freshness of the new-born spring seems to pervade3 everything. The buds on the roadside hedges, wet with a passing shower, sparkle and glint in the sunshine, and the grass on the banks is green and moist.
Even old Tom feels the effect of the glorious day, though he does anathematise the "stinking4 violets" as he rides to the closing meet at Fallow Field, and wonders[Pg 248] "'ow in the name of all that's merciful t' hounds can work in cover with the 'nation primroses5 a-coming out."
Still, he knows well that there has been such a thing before now as a real "buster" in April, and he looks approvingly on the surroundings, and mutters to himself that, "If t' sun wunna come out too strong, they may be able to do summat arter all."
As the hounds move jauntily7 along, it is evident to the merest tyro8 that their condition is as nearly perfect as can be, and that the wear and tear of the past season has had but little effect on them. Indeed Tom is quite ready to go on the whole year round if it were possible; and as Harry9 rides after Belldame, whose spirits have got the better of her discipline (an old hare in the hedgerow having proved irresistible), he says: "Let t' ould bitch alone, Harry; 'er won't 'ave another chance this year, more's the pity; they mun do as they're a-mind to-day—till wa cum to business at all events."
[Pg 249]
So Belldame saves her bacon, and the old hare having got clean off, she returns to her place looking somewhat crestfallen10.
Everybody in the country is at Fallow Field—men on horses of all sorts, shapes, and sizes. Even a donkey carries a living freight for the day, and is transformed into a "perfect fencer." Vehicles of every description are drawn11 up at the trysting-place, from the mail-phaeton and pair of steppers to the more humble12 conveyance13 of the costermonger.
Those who can find nothing whereon they may ride are fain to turn out afoot, but turn out they do in scores; and no wonder, for in a country like Bullshire, where every man, woman, and child have the spirit of sport strong upon them, each one is bound to see the last day of the season, and if they cannot all hope to be in at the death, still they can see the hounds find and go away, which is more than half the battle, and will give food for conversation for many a week afterwards.
Of course all our old friends are there.[Pg 250] The Parson and Doctor ride up together, and receive quite an ovation14 from the foot-people; then shortly afterwards the popular Secretary arrives, and causes the usual commotion15 among the gentlemen in arrears16 with their subscriptions17.
The Simmses have joined old Tom and the hounds on the road, and their advent18 is the signal for a ringing cheer, which is quickly suppressed when Sir John is seen cantering up with Harold, Mrs. Talford, and the Colonel; the Major, with a heap more, bringing up the rear.
Of course the Major has a deal of fault to find with everything, as usual; and, equally of course, the Boaster is spinning a yarn19 of his own prowess, and endeavouring to impress Mr. Betteridge with the idea that he is the only man of the hunt who has gone straight during the season.
Jack20 the Runner is making a good haul, and, were he provident21, might be able to lay by a little store to help through the summer;[Pg 251] but, as we know, he is exactly the reverse, and whatever he earns to-day will be clean gone by the end of the week, if not before.
"Well, Tom," says the Parson, from the middle of the pack (he has dismounted, and is surrounded by his favourites), "I suppose you won't be sorry to give the horn a bit of rest, eh? What say you, Minstrel?" turning to the old hound.
"Sorry, Master Halston; I shanna know what to do wi' mysen till wa begin cubbing. It's allas the same, and t' hounds feel it just like I," replies Tom. "But never mind," he continues with a smile, "if so be as you'll gie us a sermon now and again about fox-'unting, I make no doubt we shall do."
"Well, Tom, I should be puzzled for a text, I think," rejoins the Parson; "perhaps you will find one for me."
At which remark the bystanders smile, for old Tom is not a very regular attendant; but the smile breaks into a loud peal22 of laughter when the Huntsman retaliates23 as quick as[Pg 252] thought by saying: "Ay, I wull; you wunna have far to look. You can take for the first Sunday, 'Many dogs a-cum about me;' and then for the next week, as a wind-up, you can give us 'The fat bulls of Bashan,' and say what a murdering nuisance they was a-crossing the line." And with a "Coop, coom away, hounds," he rides away, having scored one most emphatically.
At this juncture24 Sir John, having pulled out his watch, gives the signal, and away they trot25 to the first draw, which unfortunately proves a blank, as does the next, whereat Tom's soul waxeth wroth, and for five minutes the vengeance26 of the gods is called down on the "stinking violets," and other articles which in his opinion militate against the scent.
The third essay seems likely for a long time to be as unproductive as the two former, when suddenly a whimper from Ranter, backed up by Harbinger, sends a thrill through the veins27 of the eager field.
[Pg 253]
Tom is all life in a moment, and his "'Ave at 'im. Eugh, 'ave at 'im! Eugh, boys!" rings out clear and shrill28.
Not so shrill, though, as Charles's "Tally-ho! gone awa-a-y! awa-a-a-y!" which comes pealing29 through the trees from the bottom end, while the pack, catching30 it up, ring out a chorus that would waken the dead.
"Hounds, please, hounds! Hold hard, gentlemen!" roars Sir John to some of the too enthusiastic fire-eaters as they gallop31 down the squashy ride, vainly endeavouring to get ahead of Tom, who, with white hair flying in the breeze, is vigorously cheering his hounds on to the line, occasionally giving them a chink of music to dance to.
At last the wood is cleared, and the pack are streaming over the grass. Nearly everybody has got a good start, and each man, knowing it is his last day, rides his best.
Mrs. Talford, as usual, is going along to the fore6, second to none; and Mr. Halston is determined32 that if the "fat bulls" do cross[Pg 254] the line, he at all events will be well enough up to note the exact spot where the catastrophe33 occurred.
Falls are plentiful34, for the pace is hot, and the weather being of the same temperature, horses are soon, as Tom says, "all a muck o' sweat," and find the fencing no light matter.
However, "For'ard on" they race, and for five-and-thirty minutes without a check, till they throw up suddenly by a thick ivy35-grown hedge.
"By Guy," says Tom, as he makes his cast and mops his face with a large red silk bandana, "by Guy, it's warm, and no mistak'." Then after a bit, as the hounds seem quite at sea: "Dashed if the varmint 'ain't melted."
Not quite. He has only run the hedge right along the top of the ivy till he came to the cross-fence, and then jumping down has set his head straight for Woodborough; and Minstrel, casting on his own account, hits off the spot where he landed on terra-firma, and[Pg 255] in loud tones proclaims it to the world in general and his companions in particular.
At it again they are in a crack, and the welcome check having allowed a chance of getting "second wind," the field are all well up and as merry as crickets. Soon, however, the pace begins to tell, and the "tailing" is terrible; as they go on each successive ditch holds a victim, and the flyers of the hunt are all forced to take a pull.
The best of the horses are beginning to sob36, and old Tom has serious misgivings37 about having to finish the run afoot. But it's a long lane that has no turning, and two fields ahead the fox is seen crawling along dead beat. The hounds run from scent to view, then comes a last final rush.
A confused mass, a worry, and then Tom's "Who-whoop! who-whoop!" is heard a mile back, and tells those struggling in the wake that the gallant38 pack have run into their fox, and that the Bullshire hounds have[Pg 256] finished their season with a rattling39 run ending in a kill.
As the word "Home" is given by Sir John, and old Tom rides off amid the congratulations of all who have managed to get to the end, he casts a look of pride at his darlings clustered round him, and mutters: "Ay, bad luck to it; it's 'Who-whoop' till next season."
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1
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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2
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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3
pervade
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| v.弥漫，遍及，充满，渗透，漫延 | |
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4
stinking
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| adj.臭的，烂醉的，讨厌的v.散发出恶臭( stink的现在分词 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透 | |
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5
primroses
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| n.报春花( primrose的名词复数 )；淡黄色；追求享乐（招至恶果） | |
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6
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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7
jauntily
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| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
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8
tyro
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| n.初学者；生手 | |
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9
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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10
crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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11
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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12
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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13
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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14
ovation
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| n.欢呼，热烈欢迎，热烈鼓掌 | |
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15
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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16
arrears
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| n.到期未付之债，拖欠的款项；待做的工作 | |
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17
subscriptions
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| n.（报刊等的）订阅费( subscription的名词复数 )；捐款；（俱乐部的）会员费；捐助 | |
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18
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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19
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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20
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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21
provident
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| adj.为将来做准备的，有先见之明的 | |
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22
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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23
retaliates
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| v.报复，反击( retaliate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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24
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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25
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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26
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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27
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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28
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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29
pealing
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的现在分词 ) | |
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30
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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31
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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32
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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33
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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34
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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35
ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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36
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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37
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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38
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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39
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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