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 CECIL AIDIM 
 
JORROCKS ON 'UNTING BY R. S. 
 SURTEES «r * PICTURES BY 
 CECIL ALDIN ¥ PUBLISHED 
 BY E. P. DUTTON AND CO. 
 NEW YORK «; ¥ ^ MCMIX 
 
REPRODUCED 
 
 AND PRINTED BY 
 
 BALLANTYNE AND CO. LTD- 
 
 TAVISTOCK STREET, COVENT GAKDFN 
 
 LONDON 5r ^ ^ ^ MCMIX 
 
Precisely as the clock was done striking 
 seven, Mr. Jorrocks ascended the platform, 
 attended by a few friends, and was received 
 with loud cheers from the gentlemen, and the 
 waving of handkerchiefs from the lady part of 
 the audience. When the applause had sub- 
 sided, Mr. Jorrocks advanced to the front 
 of the platform, and thus addressed the 
 audience : — 
 
 " Frinds and fellow-countrymen ! Lend me 
 your ears. That's to say, listen to wot I'm 
 
 3 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 agoin' to say to you. This night I shall en- 
 lighten you on the all-important ceremony of 
 takin' the field. (Loud applause.) 
 
 " Takin' the Field ! " repeated he, throwing 
 out his arms, and casting his eyes up at the 
 elegant looping of his canopy. " Takin' the 
 Field ! glorious sound ! wot words can convey 
 anything 'alf so delightful ? 
 
 " In my mind's eye I see the 'ounds in all 
 their glossy pride a trottin' around Arterxerxes, 
 who stamps and whinnies with delight at their 
 company. There's old Pristess with her 
 speckled sides, lookin' as wise as a Christian, 
 and Trusty, and Tuneable, and Warrior, and 
 Wagrant and Workman, and Wengence, and 
 all the glorious comrades o' the chase. 
 
 " But to the pint. Ingenious youth, having 
 got his 'oss, and learned to tackle him, let me 
 now, from the bonded warehouse of my know- 
 ledge, prepare him for the all-glorious ceremony 
 of the 'unt. 
 
 " Bliss my 'eart, wot a many ways there is 
 4 
 
JORROCKS ON -UNTING 
 
 of enjoyin' the chase," continued Mr. Jorrocks, 
 " and 'ow one man is led into folly and ex- 
 travagance by another ! Because great Sampson 
 Stout, who rides twenty stun', with the nerves 
 of a steam-hengine, keeps twelve 'unters and 
 two 'acks, little Tommy Titmouse, who 
 scarcely turns nine with his saddle, must have 
 as many, though he dare hardly ride over a 
 water furrow. Because Sir Yawnberry Dawdle, 
 who lies long in bed, sends on, Mr. Larkspur, 
 who is up with the sun, must needs do the same, 
 though he is obliged to put off time, lest he 
 should arrive afore his 'oss. Because Lady 
 Giddyfool puts a hyacinth in her lord's button- 
 'ole, every hass in his 'unt must send to Covent 
 Garden to get some. I werrily believes, if 
 a lord was to stick one of my peacock Gabriel 
 Junks's feathers in his 'at, there would be fools 
 to follow his example ; out upon them, say I : 
 'unting is an expensive amusement or not, 
 jest as folks choose to make it. 
 
 " There's a nasty word called ' can't,' that 
 
 5 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 does an infinity of mischief. One can't 'unt 
 without eight 'osses ; one can't do without 
 two 'acks ; one can't ride in a country saddle ; 
 one can't do this, and one can't do that — 
 hang your can'ts ! Let a man look at those 
 below him instead o' those above, and 
 think 'ow much better hoff he is nor they. 
 (Applause.) Surely the man with one 'oss is 
 better off than the man with none ! (Re- 
 newed applause.) 
 
 " Believe me, my beloved 'earers, if a man's 
 inclined for the chase, he'll ride a'most anything, 
 or valk sooner than stay at 'ome. I often 
 thinks, could the keen foot-folks change places 
 with the fumigatin' yards o' leather and scarlet, 
 wot a much better chance there would be 
 for the chase ! They, at all events, come out 
 from a genuine inclination for the sport, and 
 not for mere show-sake, as too many do. 
 
 " Dash my vig, wot men I've seen in the 
 'unting-field ! men without the slightest notion 
 of 'unting, but who think it right to try if 
 6 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 they like it, jest as they would try smokin' 
 or eaten' olives after dinner. 
 
 " ' You should get a red coat, and join the 
 
 'unt,' says a young gen'leman's old aunt ; and 
 forthwith our hero orders two coats of the 
 newest cut, five pair of spurs, ten pair of 
 breeches, twenty pair of boots, waistcoats of 
 
 7 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 every cut and figure, a bunch of whips, dia- 
 chulum drawers, a cigar-case for his pocket, a 
 pocket siphonia, a sandwich-case for one side, 
 and a shoe-case for t'other, and keeps a hair- 
 bed afloat agin he comes 'ome with a broken 
 leg. (Laughter and applause.) 
 
 " The custom of riding in scarlet is one it 
 becomes me to speak upon ; — I doesn't know 
 nothin' about the hantiquity of it, or whether 
 Julius Caesar, or any other of those antient 
 covies, sported it or not ; but, like most 
 subjects, a good deal may be said on both sides 
 of the question. There's no doubt it's a good 
 colour for wear, and that it tends to the 
 general promotion of fox-'unting, seeing that 
 two-thirds of the men wot come out and 
 subscribe wouldn't do so if they had to ride in 
 black. Still, I think ingenuous youth should 
 not be permitted to wear it at startin', for a 
 scarlet coat in the distance, though chock full 
 of hignorance, is quite as allurin' as when it 
 encloses the most experienced sportsman. 
 8 
 
jORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 " Youngsters should be cautious o' spurs ; 
 — they may use them wot is called inconti- 
 nently, and get into grief. I disagree with 
 Geoff ry Gambado, who recommends the free 
 use of them, as tendin' to keep the blood in 
 circulation and preventin' one's toes catchin' 
 cold. He recommends spurrin' i' the shoulder, 
 where he says an 'oss has most feelin', because 
 he has most weins ; adding, that by spurrin' 
 at his body, five times in six your labour is 
 lost ; for if you are a short man, you spur the 
 saddle-cloth only ; if a leggy one, you never 
 touch him at all ; and if middlin', the rider 
 wears out his own girths, without the 'oss being 
 a bit the better for it ; but my own opinion is, 
 that the less ingenuous youth uses them the 
 better. 
 
 " Flattery is easier accomplished than wit, 
 and the meet is a place where butter, with 
 a little knowledge, will go a long way. All 
 masters of 'ounds like praise. Some are so 
 fond on it, that they butter themselves. If 
 
 II 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 you see 'ounds' ribs, and their loins are well 
 filled, and flanks hollow, you may say they 
 look like their work ; if they're fat, say they 
 
 arc werry even in condition ; if lean, that 
 they look like goin' a bust ; if jest noways in 
 'ticklar, you can't get wrong if you say you 
 never saw a nicer lot. If you see some with clips 
 on the hears, or along the backs, you may 
 
 1!2 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 conclude they are new comers, and ax where 
 they are from. Rich coloured 'ounds you may 
 liken to the Belvoir, and then you can talk of 
 Goodhall and Guider, or of the Quorn True- 
 man, or even go back as far as Furrier and 
 Hosbaldeston ; and swear you never saw sich 
 legs and feet ; in short, let legs and feet, or legs 
 and loins, be the burthen of your song. Beware 
 of callin' 'ounds dogs, or sterns tails. Sich a 
 slip would make the M.F.H. turn tail on you 
 directly. 
 
 ** It looks werry knowin' to take a bit o' 
 biscuit out of your pocket, as you are lookin' 
 over the 'ounds, and make them rise on their 
 hind legs to receive it, while you scrutinise 
 them werry attentively. This is a most scientific 
 proceedin' and will immediately stamp you 
 as a werry knowin' 'and, if not for an M.F.H. 
 himself. Still let your talk be of legs and loins, 
 with an occasional mention of helbows and 
 shoulders. Perfection ! symmetry ! 'andsome ! 
 level ! bone ! breedin' ! condition ! Lord 
 
 13 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 'Enry ! Sir Richard, Sir Tatton, Mr. Jorrocks, 
 — are terms that may be thrown in at random, 
 jest as the butter seems to go down. If, 
 however, ingenuous youth's afraid o' bein' 
 tempted out of his depth, it's a safe wentur to 
 look werry approvinly at the pack generally, 
 and then say that ' they're larger nor some 
 he has seen, and not so large as others.' 
 (Laughter.) In sayin' this, it may p'raps be 
 well jest to feel his 'oss with the spur, so as to 
 make him wince, which will give him an excuse 
 for withdrawin' on the score o' being afear'd 
 o' kickin' the 'ounds, and save him from bein' 
 axed to name the larger or smaller packs he's 
 seen, which might be inconwenient. 
 
 " 'Untsmen are either 'eaven-born or hidiots 
 — there's no medium. Every schoolboy can 
 criticise their performance. Its 'stonishin' how 
 quickly 'untsmen are run up and down, jest 
 like the funds, with the bulls and the bears. 
 As no M.F.H. keeps what he considers a fool, 
 it may be well to commence in the soapy line ; 
 H 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 for even though a master may abuse a servant 
 himself, he may not fancy his field doing so too. 
 
 " Let us s'pose the last, last fumigatin' piece 
 o' conceit has cast up, and the M.F.H. gives the 
 hoffice to the 'untsman to throw off. 'Osses' 
 'eads turn one way, th' 'ounds brisk up at the 
 move, the coffee-room breaks up, frinds pair 
 off to carry out jokes, while the foot people 
 fly to the 'ills, and the bald-'eaded keeper 
 stands 'at in 'and at the gate, to let th' 'ounds 
 into cover. 
 
 " ' Eleu in I ' at length cries the 'untsman, 
 with a wave of his 'and, and in an instant his 
 'osses' 'eels are deserted. The vipper-in has 
 scuttled round the cover, and his rate and 
 crack are 'eard on the far side. ' Gently, 
 Conqueror ! Conqueror, have a care ! Ware 
 are ! ware are ! ' " 
 
 Mr. Jorrocks then took his newly bound 
 Beckford from the table at the back of the 
 platform, and read as follows : — 
 
 " * 'Ow musical their tongues ! And as they 
 
 15 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 get near to him, 'ow the chorus fills ! 'Ark ! 
 he is found. Now, vere are all your sorrows 
 and your cares, ye gloomy souls ! or where 
 your pains and aches, ye complainin' ones ! 
 one hoUoo has dispelled them all. Vot a crash 
 they make ! and hecho seeminly takes pleasure 
 to repeat the sound. The 'stonished traveller 
 forsakes his road ; lured by its melody, the 
 listenin' ploughman now stops his plough, 
 and every distant shepherd neglects his flock, 
 and runs to see him break. Vot joy 1 vot 
 heagerness in every face ! ' 
 
 " Now," said Mr. Jorrocks, smacking his 
 lips again, " that's what I call real prime stuff 
 — the concentrated essence of 'untin' — the 
 XXX of sportin', so different from the wire- 
 spun, wishy-washy yarns of modern penny-a- 
 liners, who smother their meanin' (if they 
 have any) in words. If I've read Peter once, 
 I've read, him a hundred times, and yet I finds 
 somethin' fresh to admire every time. Wernor 
 and Hood, Birchin Lane, published this edition 
 i6 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 in 1796 ; and on the title-page is pasted a 
 hextract from a newspaper that would adorn 
 a monument. ' Monday, 8th March, 181 1, at 
 his seat, Stapleton, in Dorsetshire, Peter 
 Beckford, Esq., aged 70. Mr. Beckford was 
 a celebrated fox-'unter,and hauthor of "Letters 
 on 'unting." ' There's an inscription for a 
 marble monument ! ' Multum hi farvo,'' as 
 Pomponius Ego would say. Blow me tight ! 
 but I never looks at Billy Beckford supplicatin' 
 the king on his marble monument in Guildhall, 
 but I exclaims, ' Shake Billy from his pedestal 
 and set up Peter ! ' (Hisses and applause.) 
 
 " I once wrote my epitaph, and it was werry 
 short, — 
 
 ' Hie jacet Jorrocks ' 
 
 was all wot I said ; but the unlettered 'untsman, 
 or maybe M.F.H., might pass me by, jest as 
 he would a dead emperor. Far different 
 would it be should this note follow, — ' Mr. J. 
 was a celebrated fox-hunter, and lectorer upon 
 c 17 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 'unting.' Then would the saunterin' sportsman 
 pause as he passed, and drop a tribute to the 
 
 memory of one who loved the chase so well. 
 But I'm gettin' prosaic and off the line. Let us 
 'ark back into cover ! The chase, I sings ! 
 Let's see. 
 18 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 " We had jest found our fox. Well, then, 
 let's at Peter again, for there's no one boils 
 one hup into a gallop like him. Here's a 
 description of the thief o' the world afore he 
 breaks." Mr. Jorrocks reads : — 
 
 " ' Mark 'ow he runs the cover's hutmost 
 limits, yet dares not wentur forth ; the 'ounds 
 are still too near. That check is lucky I Now, 
 if our frinds 'ead him not, he will soon be off ! ' 
 
 " Talli-ho ! " screamed Mr. Jorrocks, at 
 the top of his voice. " Dash my vig, that's 
 the cry ! " continued he, holding his hand 
 in the air. " ' See 'ov/ pale the gen'leman in 
 light scarlet and bishop's boots is turnin', and 
 how delighted old Jack Rasper, in the cut-away 
 olive, broad cords, and hoganys is ; his low- 
 crowned 'at's in the hair, for he sees the warmint, 
 a sight more glorious nor the lord mayor's 
 show ; yet he 'oUoas not ! Ah, it's talli-ho 
 back ! The fox is 'eaded by yon puppy in 
 purple, strikin' a light on the pommel of his 
 saddle, 'Ope he'll soon be sick ! Th' 'ounds 
 
 19 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 turn short, and are at him again. Have at 
 him, my beauties ! Have at him, my darlin's ! 
 
 Have at him, I say ! Yonder he goes at t'other 
 end ! — now he's away ! Old Rasper has him 
 again ! *' Talli-ho, away ! " he cries. The old 
 low-crowned 'at's in the hair, and now every 
 man 'oops and 'olloas to the amount of his 
 
 20 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 superscription. Twang ! twang ! twang ! goes 
 the Percival ; crack ! crack ! crack I go the 
 
 whips : 'ounds, 'osses, and men, are in a glorious 
 state of excitement ! Full o' beans and bene- 
 volence ! ' 
 
 " So am I, my beloved 'carers," observed 
 Mr. Jorrocks, after a pause ; " and must let 
 off some steam, or I shall be teachin' you to 
 over-ride the 'ounds." So saying, Mr. Jorrocks 
 
 21 
 
JORROCKS ON^UNTING 
 
 retired to the back of the platform, and cooled 
 himself with a fresh glass of hot brandy and 
 water. Presently he returned, and thus re- 
 sumed his discourse. 
 
 " Oh ! my beloved 'earers, if I had been at 
 the great Mr. Pomponius Hego's helbow when 
 in describin' this critical period of the chase 
 he penned the words ' go along, there are three 
 couple of 'ounds on the scent,' I'd ha' seen if 
 I couldn't ha' got him to put in ' now 'old 
 your jaws, and 'old 'ard ! and let 'em settle 
 quietly to the scent.' Believe me, my beloved 
 'earers, the words ' go along, there are three 
 couple of 'ounds on the scent,' have lost many 
 a run and saved the life of many a warmint. 
 'Ow I likes to see the 'ounds come quietly out, 
 settlin' and collectin' together, gradually mend- 
 ing their pace as they go, till they brew up a 
 reg'lar bust. That's the way to make the foxes 
 cry ' Capevi ! ' " added he. (Laughter and 
 applause.) 
 
 " Well, then, my beloved 'earers, glorious 
 
 22 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 talli-ho ! talli-ho ! — whose very echo kivers 
 me all over with the creeps — is holloaed and 
 repeated, and responded and re-echoed, and 
 th' 'ounds are settlin' to the scent. As soon as 
 ever you 'ear the cry, make up your minds 
 either to go on or go 'ome. But I won't 
 s'pose that any man will stop stirrin' till the 
 puddin's done ; at all ewents, not till he sees 
 a fence, so thrust your 'eads well into your 'ats, 
 tighten your reins, 'arden your 'earts, and with 
 elbows and legs, elbows and legs, get forrard 
 to the 'ounds." Mr. Jorrocks suiting the 
 action to the word, straddling and working 
 an imaginary horse with his arms. 
 
 " Now we are away ! The cover's wacated, 
 and there's not another within four miles, 
 which courtesy will call fourteen ! Vich vay's 
 the vind ? South-east, as I live. Then he's 
 away for Brammelkite Brake ! Now for your 
 topographical dictionaries, or, vot is still better, 
 some gemman with a map of the country in 
 his 'ead. The field begins to settle into places, 
 
 23 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 like folks at the play. If there's no parson to 
 pilot the way, gen'lemen with 'osses to sell 
 
 IS^^^O 
 
 111/ ";, 
 
 a ^, V 
 
 take the first rank. Every one now sees who 
 are there, and many may be wantin' at the end 
 to tell who come in so ; a rasper well negotiated 
 at this time o' day has sold many a screw. 
 After the gen'lemen with 'osses to sell comes 
 H 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 the 'untsman, entreatin' the gen'lemen with 
 'osses to sell not to press upon the 'ounds ; 
 but as he only talks to their backs, they regard 
 the exhortation as a mere figure o' speech. 
 The top-sawyers of the 'unt will be close on 
 the 'untsman. There will not be many of 
 these ; but should there be a barrack in the 
 neighbourhood, some soger officers will most 
 likely mex up and ride at the 'ardest rider 
 among 'em. The dragon soger officer is the 
 most dangerous, and may be known by the 
 viskers under his nose. A foot soger officer's 
 'oss is generally better in his wind than on his 
 legs. They generally wear chin wigs, and 
 always swear the leaps are nothin' compared 
 with those in the county they came from — 
 Cheapside, p'raps. 
 
 " In the wake of the top-sawyers and soger 
 officers will come your steady two 'oss men, their 
 eyes to the 'ounds, their thoughts in the chase, 
 regardless of who crams or who cranes. These 
 generally wear cords, their viskers are greyish, 
 
 P 25 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 and their brown top-boots look as if they have 
 never been wite. 
 
 " The ' safe pilot ' is generally a man with a 
 
 broad back, clad in bottle-green, with plain 
 metal buttons, white neckcloth, striped veskit, 
 drab kerseys, with ribbons danglin' over a 
 'hogany top ; or maybe in the scarlet coat of 
 the 'unt, with a hash-plant, to denote that he 
 is a gate-opener, and not a leaper : a man of 
 this sort will pilot a youngster all day without 
 ridin' over a fence. He knows every twist, 
 every turn, every gate, every gap, in the country, 
 and though sometimes appearin' to ride away 
 26 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 from the 'ounds, by skirtin' and nickin', will 
 often gain Reynard's p'int afore them — p'raps 
 afore Reynard himself ! 
 
 " Gentlemen wot take their ideas of 'unting 
 from Mr. Hackermann's pictor-shop in Regent's 
 Street must have rum notions of the sport. 
 There you see red laps flyin' out in all directions, 
 and 'osses apparently to be had for catchin'. 
 True, that in 'unting men will roll about — but 
 so they will on the road ; and I'd rayther have 
 two bumps in a field than one on a pike. Danger 
 is everywhere ! An accomplished frind of 
 
JORROCKS ON'UNTING 
 
 mine says, ' Impendet omnibus periculum ' — 
 Danger 'angs over an omnibus : and ' Mors 
 omnibus est communis,' — You may break your 
 neck in an omnibus : but are we, on that 
 account, to shun the wehicle of which the 
 same great scholar says, ' Wirtus parvo pretio 
 hcet ab omnibus,' — Wirtue may ride cheap 
 in an omnibus ? Surely not ! 
 
 " Still, a fall's a hawful thing. Fancy a 
 great sixteen 'and 'oss lyin' on one like a blanket, 
 or sittin' with his monstrous hemispheres on 
 one's chest, sendin' one's werry soul out o' one's 
 nostrils ! Dreadful thought ! Vere's the brandy ? " 
 Hereupon Mr. Jorrocks again retired to the back 
 of the platform to compose his nerves. 
 
 " Now, my beloved 'carers," continued he, 
 returning and wiping his mouth on the back 
 of his hand, — " Now, my beloved 'earers, let's 
 draw on old Peter for a run, for I really think 
 a good suck of 'im is a'most as good as a tuck 
 out at the Ship and Turtle Tavern. 
 
 " Here we 'ave 'im," continued Mr. Jorrocks, 
 
 28 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 opening at the place, and proceeding to read 
 with all due energy and emphasis : " ' Mind, 
 Galloper, 'ow he leads them ? It's difficult 
 to 'stinguish which is first, they run in such 
 good style ; yet he is the foremost 'ound. The 
 goodness of his nose is not less excellent than 
 his speed : — 'ow he carries the scent ! and when 
 he loses it, see 'ow eagerly he flings to recover 
 it again ! There — now he's at 'ead again ! 
 See 'ow they top the 'edge ! Now, now they 
 mount the 'ill ! — Observe wot a 'ead they carry ; 
 and show me, if thou canst, one shuffler or 
 shirker 'mongst 'em all : are they not like a 
 parcel of brave fellows, who, when they 'gage 
 in an undertakin', determine to share its fatigue 
 and its dangers equally' mongst them ? ' 
 
 " Capital ! " exclaimed Mr. Jorrocks, smack- 
 ing his lips. " Excellent indeed. That's jest 
 precisely like my 'ounds. 
 
 " Dash my vig, if I could but get a clever 
 feller like Leech to draw me a panorama o' 
 the chase, with all my beauties goin' like beans 
 
 29 
 
JORROCKS ON 'UNTING 
 
 — 'eads up and sterns down, and a lot o' trumps 
 ridin' as they should do — near enough to 'ear 
 their sweet music, but not too near to prevent 
 their swingin' and spreadin' like a rocket to 
 make their own cast, I'd — I'd — I'd — bowl 
 Halbert Smith and his wite mountain and his 
 black box right down Sin Jimses Street into the 
 Thames, and set up i' the 'Giptian 'All myself." 
 (Great laughter and applause.) When it sub- 
 sided, Mr. Jorrocks, returning to his volume, said, 
 " Peter now does a little potry, and we'll 
 do ditto. Here it is : — 
 
 Far o^er the rocky ^ills we range, 
 
 And dangerous our course ; but in the brave 
 True courage never jails. In wain the stream 
 In foaming eddies whirls, in wain the ditch 
 Wide gapn^ threatens death. I'he craggy steep, 
 Where the poor dizzy shepherd crawls with care, 
 And clings to every twig, gives us no pain ; 
 But down we sweep, as stoops the falcon bold 
 To pounce his prey. Then hup the opponent Hit 
 30 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 By the szvift motion slung, we mount aloft ; 
 So ships r winter seas now sliding sink 
 A down the steepy wave, then tossed on ^igh 
 Ride on the billows and defy the storm,'' 
 
 " That's capital, too," observed Mr. Jorrocks, 
 conning the matter over, '^ werry superior 
 readin', indeed, but some'ow or other, I thinks 
 I likes old Peter better ; it comes more nattural 
 like. 'Ere, for instance, is a bit o' fine sportin' 
 scenery, that makes one feel all over, 'unting 
 like." 
 
 Mr. Jorrocks then read as follows : — 
 " ' It was then the fox I saw, as we came 
 down the 'ill ; — those crows directed me 
 which way to look, and the ship ran from 'im 
 as he passed along. The 'ounds are now on 
 the werry spot, yet the ship stop them not, 
 for they dash beyond them. Now see with 
 wot heagerness they cross the plain ! — Galloper 
 no longer keeps his place ; Brusher takes it 
 — see 'ow he flings for the scent, and 'ow 
 
 31 
 
JORROCKS ON ^UNTING 
 
 impetuously he runs ! 'Ow heagerly he took 
 the lead, and 'ow he strives to keep it. Yet 
 Wictor comes hup apace. He reaches 'im. 
 See wot an excellent race it is between them ! 
 It is doubtful which will reach the cover first. 
 'Ow equally they run ! 'Ow heagerly they 
 strain ! Now Wictor — Wictor ! — Ah, Brusher, 
 you are beaten ; Wictor first tops the 'edge. 
 See there ! See 'ow they all take in their 
 strokes ! The 'edge cracks with their weight, 
 so many jump at once.' 
 
 '* Capital, indeed," exclaimed Mr. Jorrocks ; 
 " most excellent, I may say. All sheer 'unting 
 — no nasty jealous stipple chase ridin', hurry- 
 ing 'ounds a mile beyond the scent. No 
 ' go-alongs ! there are three couple of 'ounds 
 on the scent,' but real ' Fox et preteria 
 nihil,' as Hego would say. Blow me tight, 
 if such readin' doesn't parfectlie bust me," 
 added he, again retiring to the brandy amidst 
 the loud and long-continued applause of the 
 company. 
 
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