The age-herald., 1899-06-11
PART X.
HoDo GETS HIS BLOOD UP

HODO GETS ftl0 6lOOD O1
 Old Scar-Face would have had quite shivery feeling if he had known that the wailing cry he heard was the voice Of MT Collingsworth's Music, telling the rest ot the hounds that she had discovered the drag of a fox. Although Joe Maxwell, with Buster John behind him, and Hodo trot- ting in a dignified way at his horses heels, had gone directly into the public road by way of the gate near the spring, the rest of the huntsmen, led by the White-H Haired Master, went through the gin house lot. The dogs, delighted to be free once more, and enthusiastic over the prospects of chase, went galloping about the place, nosing in every corner. not because they expected to find the scent of fox there- abouts, but because it is their nature.
 It fell to the lot of Music to pass near the spot where old Scar-Face had caught the hen the night before few feathers were lying scattered about. These Music investigated, and immediately her nose made an important discovery. A fox had passed that way! Whereupon she lifted up her voice to warn the whole pack Some responded, while others thought it was a piece of folly, and went trotting along about their business. But Music persisted.
 Mr. Collingsworth stopped his horse and listened. There's a fox as sure as tine world" said he.
 "Pooh!" cried MT. Dennis, contemptu- ously; You've been training your dogs with cat skin. Call the silly creature off, or you will have all the dogs going at full cry after neighborhood tomcat."
 Just then MT. Dennis Ruth put in. "What did I tell you?' he insisted. If there's a fox within a radius of five miles this chase of a tomcat will scare him out of the country"
 ''Wait!' said Mir. Kilpatrick; T hear Whalebone trying to whimper, and know mighty well he's not interested in cats"
 The rain had taken a good deal of the snap out of the drag. Joe Maxwell ex- plained to Buster John afterward, but the hounds knew their business They flung themselves about trying to hit upon a fresher scent, but finally worked back to the gin house, from the gin house to the road and along the road to the bars. They worked very quietly. Musics worning walls had not been repeated, but she, as well as the rest knuckled down to busi- ness. working with occasional whines and half-barks.
 Joe Maxwell and Buster John had al ready arrived at the bars that opened in to the sedge field. When Hodo saw that all the rest of the hounds were coming in ms QlTeCllO0, ne lOSl lOSl HIS ulBully SO lar as to examine the ground near the bars
 "If that fox was fool enough to go down to the barn during the night he's fool enough to stay in this field until he heard Music bark awhile ago. If that's so, he'll never run ahead of the dogs any more." This was Joe Maxwell's conclusion.
 Old Fountain, somewhat belated (for his going had not been decided on till the last momenD, came galloping up, riding mule, dismounted and flung down the bars. Somehow, it seemed to Buster John that f1inging down the bars had brought daylight; for, as the last one fell, he look ed about him, and everything was plainly visible. He could see the rest of the hunt CTS coming along the lane that led from the gin house lot, and he could see Hodo cantering rapidly toward the pine thicket, where he had seen Old Scar-Face.
 "When he's up, where does he run?" Joe Maxwell asked Fountain.
 Straight to'rds de p'nt CT woods cross wander, an den he bars ter de lef'-allers ter de lef'."
 At this instance Hodo gave fierce chal- lenge, TO which Joe Maxwell responded with a cheerful halloo that brought all