CHAPTER IX.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 351, 16 March 1889, Page 6

CHAPTER IX.

VISITING THE KENNELS. The day was lovely. The hot sun was tempered by a pleasant breeze that set all the leaves rustling and fluttering, causing the slender, overgrown twigs in the hedgerows to bend gently to and fro, as, with a glad chirping and spreading of wings, tho birds settled themselves there-' 1 !). After passing for gome way through a long, shady lane, bordered on either side by stately trees, the road suddenly emerged to an open common, which for a considerable space presented a stretch of tolerably even turf to the eye. This eight proved tempting in the extreme to the two equestrians, who until now had proceeded demuiely enough 4 1 say, Dulcie,' said Bob, ' let's have a canter. We shall bo all the afternoon reaching ouv destination at this sober pace.' For sole answer the girl gave Butterfly a little jo'k of the bridle, which made the mare, who was all eagerness and impetuosity, dart forward like an arrow shot from a bow. Once set in motion, the fresh breeze blowing about her head and neck, the sense of companionship and love of j action induced Butterfly at every stride to inciec-e her bpeeri, until at last she fairly galloped away from old Blunderbuss. Dulcie's cheeks began to glow and her eye» to sparkle as if they had caught and reflected a sunray, for she keenly enjoyed the exhilarating scn a ition of tearing through the nir at a rapid pace. She sat well back in the saddle, and gripped the pommel-* firmly with her knees, while Butterfly, mad with delight, fought against the bit, tossed her head up impatiently, and reached at the bridle, striving to obtain increased freedom. Meantime, Bob plodded away gallantly in the rear, old Blunderbuss labouring onwards at his toprrost speed, which, to use his rider's expression, was ' not much faster than you could kick your hat along.' He plunge I heavily into every litile irregularity of the giound with an alarmintr awkwardness, the result of his straight and loaded shoulders. Before long he caught his toes en the edge of a sm.Ml open drain, which sent him sprawling on to his great ugly head. He bu ceeded, however, after a desperate flounder, in regaining an upright position, and Bob, slightly put oat by the occurrence, and also at finding himself so hopelessly distanced, shouted out to Dulcie at the top ot his voice to pull j up. * Woa, Blunderbuss, you old beast ! Steady, will you, you brute !' he exclaimed, indignantly, tugging at the bridle till he was red in the fMce, and Dulcie, bringing aU her energies to bear on the curb-rein, at length succeeded in checking Butterfly's ardour. j ' That was splendid, Bob !' she cried, enthusiastically, looking as rosy as a young Hebe. ' Butterfly is delightfully fresh today. 1 ' You have got the legs of poor me,' answered Bob, pomewhat ruefully. ' Hold up, you brute you !' as Blunderbuss once more stumbled over a molehill. * Why the dickens can't you look where you are going to?' Laughing and chatting, the ten miles separating Milnacot Lodge from the kennels of the Snapshot hounds were so quickly encompassed that both Dulcie and Bob were surprised at finding they had actually reached their destination. They forthwith dismounted, put up the horsea in a spare etable, loosened their girths, and covered their loins with a couple of old rugs, after which they inquired for Sam Bodley, the huntsman, who shortly made his appearance and welcomed his visitors most graciously. Mr Bodley received them with a mixture ot courtesy and condescension, highly gratifying to their feelings. They had arrived in the very nick of time, and after a few inquiries as to the probable commencement of the cub-hunting season, and prospects for the ensuing winter, the party adjourned to the kennels, which had been bub recently erected by the master. Directly they heard the sounds of approaching footsteps, the hounds sprang up against the iron railings. One after one, appeared an eager, expectant head, with inaesive brow, deep jowl, and great luminous eyes. Meanwhile, Sam Bodley, producing a key from his pocket, opened the door >nndi entered swiftly, followed by hit* companions. The floor was composed of clean red bricks that had just been thoroughly washed down, and the water was still runnine off them in tiny rivulets into leaden gutters, placed purposely for its reception.

The hounds food, consisting chiefly ot oahmeal and boiled horse-fle«h, was anang cl in long 1 wooden troughs, in an inner kennel that was divided fiom the outer one by a species of trapdoor, from which a remarkablly unsavoury odour proceeded. Despite this drawbatk, it was a pleasure seeing the huntsman standing in the midst of his hounds, whilst the noble animals bayed, leapt, and struggled all round, waving their sterna like slender reeds swayed by a cross wind, and endeavouring each in turn to catch the master's eye, so as to obtain mention of his or her individual name. For before it was uttered, and sanction had been given, none dared enter through that narrow doorway, or partake of the coveted food beyond ; affording a cuiioua instance of how completely brute instincts can be subjugated by the mero force of human volition. Every now and again, as some hound, more enterprising, impatient, or voracious than hi? neighbour, jumped up from among the mottled t .rong, and placed his strong fore- paws well-nigh on Sam Bodley's cheat, the latter checked such canino eagerness with a stern, reproving word or flick of the whip, which sent the offender yelping back with drooping quarters, and a depressed expression of countenance quite touching to behold. At length, when he had expatiated on the meriti and demerits»of each individual hound and its choice particular strain of blood, the huntsman slid back the door, standing close in front of it himsolf, and with hunting crop in hand called out, 4 ShepheHess, Profligate, Skinflint, Dairymaid, Myrtle.' They wera all lean looking delicate creatures, who forced their vny through their companions, seeming to know instinctively that they would be among tl.o first named. Then followed Sloper, Prettyiass, Finder, Draper, and Rosemary, light, shy - feeding hounds, who were allowed a longer interval in which to refresh than their more heat ty and gluttonoius neighbours. Each one whs called up according to his appetite and capacity* — the dainly hounds lust, and the greedy "ones last. To Dulcie'a unpraolised eye most of them looked so much alike that, with the exception of a few very light or strikingly marked uiimn'.b, sho marvelled how Sam Bodley could possibly distinguish them apart: but he— amused at what in hid 6y38 appeared such curious ignorance — assured her with a patronising smile that he bad no difficulty whatever in doing so. Presently the hounds beean slinking out again with a meek, satisfied look and distended sides. After they had been all fed, and were stretching their legs on the plot of grass outside the kennels, Sam proposed to show his visitors some of the hunt horses — a mnrk of quite unusual favour on his pait— -and, though it was now neaily half-past five o'clock, the temptation wa^ so great that neither Bob nor D.jlcie could find it in their hearts to refuse the invitation. There were no many horses, and their various qualifications, together with » full account of each good run in which they had taken a part, took so long in telling, that Bob and Duicie, when onco moie they emerged into the yard, were horrified at seeing how low the sun had sunk in the heavens and how swiftly the long windows were creeping up. Therefore, they hurried over their farewell speeches, warmly thanking Sam Bodley for his kindness, and remounted thtir steeds. i hey at once set off for home at a sharp swinging trot, which was shortly increased to a hand-gallop, and kept up steadily for two or three miles, until their horses began to lather freely, and Butterfly, bocoming edited at finding her head set towards her stables, pulled so determinedly that Duicie declaied they must walk for a bit, if only to rest her arms, which were rapidly growing powerless. 1 Would you like to change saddle? and get on Blunderbuss?' asked Bob, fearing she was overtiring herself. * No, thank jou,' she said in reply. 'We should waste too much time. Perhaps ii you would ti hten Butterfly's curb a little fche may go more quietly. She ha? grown impatient at being kept waiting po long.' Hob drscended immediately and linked up the steel chains aa he was bidden. 'There, that's better,' he said. 'And now let us make haste, for I'm afraid we're most awfully late. Not that I mind myself, but I don't want you to catch a wigging if it can be helped. What time arc your mother and Ethel likely to return? 1 'I don't know, but certainly not later than seven. I should like, if possible, to have been in first.' 4 And it is now close upon half-past six,' said Bob, looking at h:s watch. 'We can't do it anyhow, Duicie, 'or we've only come about bnree miles, and have nearly seven to go yet.' 1 Never mind. In for a penny, in for a pound, and some scolding more ur less really makes very little difference. Lectures in some shape or another are of daily occurrence, and I am tolerably well accustomed to them.' * But I can't bear tn think that / should be the mean? of getting you into trouble.' | She looked him full in the face, with eyes in which no shadow of regret found a dwelling-plac\ 4 Well, and what Uien ? Won't you believe me when I say I have enjoyed my&elf so much that I would willingly ritk a dozen scoldings rather than have Jost this one afternoon ?' There was no misdoubting the f-ineority of her words. A smile illumined hi.countenance. * Would you really, Dv cie?' gazing at her eagerly, jet wistfully. 4 Yes, really. So don't let us allude feo the subject nry more. We havo had our pleasure, and must pay accordingly ; but I for one do not grudge the cost,' 'Not even if they won't over let you come out with me again?' Eaid he dejectedly. 4 Bob,' speaking with great aevorifcy, 4 you are a goo e e. Did I ask leave to-day, shall I ask leave in the future, if my belongings aia^isagreejible, and try to prevent our see^K each other, as vre have been ascustomedJKdo all our lives ? No, certainly not. Twhat harm can there possibly be in going for a ride together ?' But Duicie, though she argued thin lightly, eenerously trying to relieve Bob from any cense ot wrong, knew perfectly well that this ofT-hand way of treating matters was unsubstantial. The only chance of avoiding a collision lay in being able to reach home first, before her mother returned from her round of visits: and this, alas ! owing to the imprudence fhe .and Bob had displayed in staying so long at the kennels, was an exceedingly remote probability.