Now! now! the road turns off again far westward
of his point! He may, by Jove! And he has left it!
"Have at him then, lads; he is ours!"
And lo! the pace increases. Ha! what a sudden turn, and in the middle
too of a clear pasture.
"Has he been headed, Harry?"
"No, no; his strength is failing."
And see! he makes his point again toward the hill; it is within a
quarter of a mile, and if he gain it we can do nothing with him, for it
is full of earths. But he will never reach it. See! he turns once again;
how exquisitely well those bitches run it; three times he has doubled,
now almost as short as a hare, and they, running breast-high, have
turned with him each time, not over-running it a yard.
See how the sheep have drawn together into phalanx yonder, in that bare
pasture to the eastward; he has crossed that field for a thousand! Yes,
I am right. See! they turn once again. What a delicious rally! An
outspread towel would cover those four leading hounds--now Dauntless has
it; has it by half a neck.
"He always goes up when a fox is sinking," Harry exclaimed, pointing
toward him with his hunting whip.
Aye! he has given up his point entirely; he knew he could not face the
hill.
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