Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-04-16


so unsuccessfully, that he he'd gained for
himself the title of ''Traveller; :" and it
was considered as thing almost impossible
to come up with him. There were many
marvellous stories in relation to this old fox,
his art and cunning in lodging the dogs;
and Harry, who really believed it to be
some 'ssperit," swore it was sin to chase
him, and no good could ever come of it.
We were perfectly acquainted with
t'Traveller's' haunts, and very soon, after
the hounds were turned loose, they struck
his trail. Immediately sixty-fve voices
joined in the thrilling chorus.
ga cry more tunabIe was never halla'd to,
Nor cheered with horn
From my heart [ pity the man whose
soul echoes not the bell-toned voices Of the
eager hounds, whose blood leaps not faster
through the veins. and who knows not the
wild Joy that thrills the breast and fires the
brain, when listening to their cry in hot
pursuit.
81 never heard SO musical dscord,
Such sweet thunder
sTrayeller" is up-away 60 the hounds,
and close after them, over the sedgy field
across fences and bitches, ride Junior and
Squire George, each contending for the
lead. Close upon their heels, is ''Rocket," :"
going at a telling pace, with distended nos
trils and flashing eyes, determined to keep
up though under a dead pull from Titus,
who, either from his ''coc1ney seat" Or an
extra charge of nard,' begins to act the
pendulum "Of0 Charley is galloping a.
bout over the field, first in one direction and
then in another, attempting to keep up by
anticipating the course Of the chase, and
taking the short cuts.
The rest Of US 90 in On the slow coach
system, moving about from point to point,
just so as to keep within hearing. In fact
Col. T., the Major, and myself, would have
no chance in such a race, as We were over
weighted !; and no doubt, as we logged a.
long on our cobs, we much more resembled
men in search Of a funeral - than s:snry
young bucks after fox.
Our system has its advantages. See,
Traveller has doubled On his pursuers and
is now coming directly towards Us. There
we have full view of him as he crosses the
ridge with swinging lope, putting the dogs
behind him with ease The dogs have pass
cd us, and there 60 the three riders; hut
they have changed places, and s'Rochet"
now has the lead going with tremendous
strides, still under hard pull from Titus,
who is standing straight in his stirrups.
with side rein in each hand.
On, across broad bitches and high hodges,
dash those excited horscmen. never baulk-
inc for an instant, for their stecd are as true
as steel. The fox and dogs have passed
out Of the field where the fence is at least
six feet high, and Squire George and Junior
are whipping around to gap with which
they are acquainted; but 'sRochet'' is car
rying his rider straight at that fence.
"Good heavens" cried the Major, sFsure-
ly Ea will not attempt to put his horse over
that fence"
"No," replied, s'but Rocket will put
him over if he can only stick to him."
At full speed the gallant horse went for
the fence, and with a bound like stag,
cleared it handsomely; but there, across the
top-rail lay Titus, where he had fallen like
a pair of saddle bags, with his head ON one
side and his heels On the other. We hur-
ried towards the spot thinking him serious
ly hurt, but before we reached him he right
ed himself up, and raddling the fence,
tipped his flask with ga here's at you, " in
the direction Of the flying Rocket.
"Ea, ha, ha," laughed Col T., as we
rode up; $50, Mr. Rrix, you got spilled,
sure enough, did you: [ thought you were
going to be in at the death p
'LooL you, Colonel,'' said Titus, II
have already been rallied enough for one
heat, and been as near in at the death as
[ want to be again, soon SO take a drink
and say no more about it"
'sMum's the word" said the Colonel
Drinks taken.
The party were remarking upon the cx-
traordinary leap made by the horse, and
one said that he had never before seen such, :,
nor believed that any other Of us had. [
told him that he was mistaken.
I once saw a man weighing thirteen stone,
with his gun on his shoulder, leap his horse
over large log, SO far from the ground
that lie afterwards rode underit. The most
daring feat [ ever saw was man leaping
his horse across the mouth of an open els
tern, fifteen feet across by twenty-five feet
deep.
While we were speaking the dogs ceased
crying, and long wind from Juniors bugle
told us that Traveller was either, 'streed,"
OR caught. Leaving Titus with the promise
to call for him as we came back, we rode
on in the direction of the bugle-call, and
soon coming up to the spot we found that
our game had ''gone to earth'' in a small
hollow over-grown with cane and bushes.
II II,