Two other sportsmen, grave, sober-looking farmers, whom Harry greeted
cheerily by name, and to whom in all due form I was next introduced,
well-mounted, and armed with long single-barreled guns, completed our
party; and away we went at a rattling trot, the hounds following at
Archer's heels, as steadily as though he hunted them three times a week.
"Now arn't it a strange thing," said Tom, "arn't it a strange thing, Mr.
Forester, that every critter under Heaven takes somehow nat'rally to
that are Archer--the very hounds--old Whino there! that I have had these
eight years, and fed with my own hands, and hunted steady every winter,
quits me the very moment he claps sight on him; by the eternal, I
believe he is half dog himself."
"You hunted them indeed," interrupted Harry, "you old rhinoceros, why
hang your hide, you never so much as heard a good view-holloa till I
came up here--you hunted them--a man talk of hunting, that carries a
cannon about with him on horseback; but come, where are we to try first,
on Rocky Hill, or in the Spring Swamps?"
"Why now I reckon, Archer, we'd best stop down to Sam Blain's--by the
blacksmith's--he was telling t'other morning of an eternal sight of them
he'd seen down hereaway--and we'll be there to rights!--Jem, cus you,
out of my way, you dumb nigger--out of my way, or I'll ride over you"--
for, traveling along at a strange shambling run, that worthy had
contrived to keep up with us, though we were going fully at the rate of
eight or nine miles in the hour.
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