On this occasion it was nearly one before the fox allowed himself to be killed, and then he had hardly been outside the park palings.

There was a good deal of sherry drank before the party got away and hunting men such as Major Caneback began to think that the day was to be thrown away.

As they started off for Shugborough Springs, the little covert on John Runce's farm which was about four miles from Rufford Hall, Sir John asked the Major to get on another animal.

"You've had trouble enough with her for one day, and given her enough to do." But the Major was not of that way of thinking.

"Let her have the day's work," said the Major.