The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-11
PLANTATION PAGEANTS.
(Continued.)
HodO Got His Blood Up.

the hounds that she had discovered the
drag of a fox. Although Joe Maxwell,
with Buster John behind him, and Hodo
trotting 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
ginhouse dot. The dogs delighted to be
free once more, and enthusiastic over The
prospect of chase, went galloping about
the place, nosing in every corner; not be-
cause they expected to find the scent of
A fox whereabouts, 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. A few feathers
we're 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. That's a fox as sure as the
world" said he.
"Poohp cried Mr.. Dennis contemptu-
ously; you've been training your dogs
with a cat skin. Call the silly creature
off or you will have all the dogs going at
full cry after a neighborhood tomeat."
Just then Mr.. Dennis Ruth put in:
What did l tell your" 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"
''Waitp' said Mr.. Fitzpatrick; 'I hear
Whalebone trying to whimper, and know
mighty we'll he's not interested in cats"
The rain had taken a good deal of the
snap out Of the drag. Joe Maxwell eX-
planned to Buster John afterward, but the
hounds knew their business They flung
themselvs about trying to hit upon
fresher scent, but finally worked back 10
the ginhouse, from the ginhouse to the
road. and along the road to the bars.
They worked very quietly. Music's warn
ing walls had not been repeated, but she,
as wen as the rest. knuckled down to bus
mess. working with occasional whineS and
half-barks.
Joe Maxwell and Buster John had al
ready arrived at the bars that opened into
the sedge field. When Hodo saw that all
the rest of the hounds were coming in his
direction, he lost his dignity so far as TO
examine the ground near the bars.
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 Maxwelrs conclusion.
Old Fountain, somewhat belated (for his
going had not been decided on till the last
momenO, came galoping up, riding a
mule, dismounted and flung down the bars.
Somehow, 1t seemed to Buster John that,
finging down the bars had brought day
light; for, as the last one fell. he looked
about him, and everything was plainly
visible He could see the rest of the
hunters coming along the lane that led
from the gin house lot, and he could see
Hodo cantering rapidly toward the pine
thcket, where he had seen Old Scar
Face.
When he's up, where does he run?"
Joe Maxwell asked Fountain.
Straight lords de pint er woods cross
yander an den he bars ter de lef alters
Ger de lef."
At this instant Hodo gave a fierce chal-
lenge, to which Joe Maxwell responded
with a cheerful halloo that brought all
the dogs into the fed with their heads up.
The clouds had now blown away from the
east, and the level beams of the rising sun
fell upon the tops of the pines.
Name err do Lord Look at dat dogw
exclaimed Old Fountain. Hodo had is
sued from the clump of pines and was now
leaping in the air above the level of the
sedge and running wildly about The rest
Of the dogs were even more excited. They
ran around, giving tongue and acting as
II the fox was right under their noses.
But Hodo suddenly ceased his antics, chal-
lenged twice, and was away, followed by
the whole pack, their voices rhyming and
Ginning in the crisp morning air. In
Voluntarily Buster John squeezed Joe
Maxwell as hard as he could. He was
derously happy.
He felt a pang, however, when he saw
the rest of the hunters galloping helter-
skelter after the dogs, while he and Joe
Maxwell were ambllng along in direc-
uon that seemed gradually to lead away
from them. Butterfly, however, was run
mig toward a Hill in which the sedge field
eliminated, and from this point wide
expanse of country lay under the eye.
Joe Maxwell looked at his watch and
round that only five minutes had passed
since Hodo had led the hunt away from
tne clump of pines near which Old Scar
race made his home. The young man
gave Butterfly his head, and in few mo-
ments had reached the top of the hill,
which, though not high, was the highest
| point for many miles. The sun, shining
al their backs, threw a flood of yellow
nsht on the hunt. Buster John could see
MS grandfather, tall and straight, riding
after the hounds, fanked on either side
by the rest of the huntsmen, while Old
FOUNTAIN brought up the rear, belaborlng
MS mount with brush broken from some
convenient tree.
Inc dogs could be heard, but they were
not in sight They were running through
,ne point of woods to which Old Fountain
nad referred. While Buster John was
ooklng at the hunters, Joe Maxwell ran
MS eye along the horizon to the left and
taught sight of the fox going as swiftly
as the shadow of flying bird. He tried
% snow this swiftly moving shadow to
nuster john and finally succeeded and
'aen it vanished.
Great goodness exclaimed Maxwell
sieeIuliy; ''he must have stopped to catch
rat What is he thinking about? He
VOC last forty minutes"
why, he's a mile or more ahead of
"e dogs said Buster John.
A mile and a quarter" admitted Max
~II' measuring the distance with his eye
ant til / send word to Hodo"
IiomDt as an echo a black shadow