They seemed, too, to be troubled with various
complaints and infirmities. Some had the mange; some had blear eyes; some
had but one; many were out at the elbows; and not a few down at the toes.
However, they had killed a fox, and 'Handsome is that handsome does,' said
Mr. Sponge, as, with his horse surrounded by them, he moved on in quest of
his way home.
At first, he thought to retrace his steps by the marks of his horse's
hoofs, and succeeded in getting back to the dean, where Sir Harry's hounds
changed foxes with Lord Scamperdale's; but he got confused with the
imprints of the other horses, and very soon had to trust entirely to
chance. Chance, we are sorry to say, did not befriend him; for, after
wandering over the wide-extending downs, he came upon the little hamlet of
Tinkler Hatch, and was informed that he had been riding in a semicircle.
He there got some gruel for his horse, and, with day closing in, now set
off, as directed, on the Ribchester road, with the assurance that he
'couldn't miss his way.' Some of the hounds here declined following him any
farther, and slunk into cottages and outhouses as they passed along.
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