“Iss sure.”
“Well, they’re close handy to un, laystwise I reckin so: ’twas by the furst glim o’ day I seed ’em.”
Below them lay a stretch of marshy ground fed by some bubbling springs. Rills trickled along channels in the peaty ground, sparkling here and there between tussocks of rush and withered grass, losing themselves in a vivid green patch that fringed a chattering trout-stream. On the higher side, nestling under shelter of a craggy ridge, was about an acre of furze with a big dimple in it where yellow blooms lingered.
The scarlet coats of the riders gave a few dashes of warmth to the grey expanse of boulder-strewn moor.
Sir Bevil watched the hounds as they drew up wind, the big chestnut with its pricked ears seeming as intent as his rider. Their shadow lay almost motionless aslant the lichen-covered rock. The working of the pack was easily seen, save where the ground dipped around a pool or boggy growth luxuriated. Flushed by hound or crack of whip, a woodcock rose and dropped in some withes a furlong away. Still there was no sign of the fox, no view holloa, not a whimper. The idler hounds lapped the tempting water, seemingly heedless of the huntsman’s voice.
“I’m afeard o’ my saul ’tes blank, Jim; hounds don’t saam to maake nawthin’ of un.”
“Nawthin’ at all, scent’s gone along wi’ the frost. But don’t ee go and upset yoursel’ about et, ’tes noane of your fault.”
Amongst the members of the hunt, disposed in little groups behind Sir Bevil, the green of the bog and the gleam of the rippling water showing between them, expectation drooped, and the little cares of life that a whimper would have kept to the crupper, seizing their opportunity, began to steal back to their owners.
The doctor’s eyes wandered to the lonely cottage; the shipowner found himself thinking of the fall in freights, the miner of the drop in tin; and even the red-whiskered farmer was wondering whether the ten-score pig hanging by the heels in his outhouse would fetch 4¾d. or 5d. a lb. on the next market day.
Suddenly Troubadour, the most reliable hound of the pack, threw up his nose as he whiffed the tainted air.