t burrowed into the sandy side of some great
bank. Farther on we started a hare, which went off in its curious
hopping fashion to be out of sight in a few moments.

Almost directly after, as we were clambering over a steep slope, Uncle
Bob stopped short, and stood there sniffing.

"What is it?" I cried.

"Fox," he said, looking round.

"Nonsense!" cried Uncle Dick.

"You wouldn't find, eh? What a nasty, dank, sour odour!" cried Uncle
Jack, in his quiet, thoughtful way.

"A fox has gone by here during the last few minutes, I'm sure," cried
Uncle Bob, looking round searchingly. "I'll be bound to say he is up
among those tufts of ling and has just taken refuge there. Spread out
and hunt."

The tufts he pointed to were right on a ridge of the hill we were
climbing, and separating we hurried up there just in time to see a
little reddish animal, with long, drooping, bushy tail, run in amongst
the heath fifty yards down the slope away to our left.

"That's the consequence of having a good nose," said Uncle Bob
triumphantly; and now, as we were on a high eminence, we took a good
look round so as to make our plans.

"Hadn't we better turn back now?" said Uncle Jack. "We shall have
several hours' walk before we get to Arrowfield, and shall have done as
much as Cob can manage."

"Oh, I'm not a bit tired!" I cried.

"Well," said Uncle Dick, "I think we had better go forward. I'm not
very learned over the topography of the district, but if I'm not much
mistaken that round hill or mountain before us is Dome Tor."

"Well?" said Uncle Jack.

"Well, I propose that we make straight for it, go over it, and then ask
our way to the nearest town or village where there is a railway-station,
and ride back."

"Capital!" I cried.

"Whom will you ask to direct us?" said Uncle Jack dryly.

"Ah! To be sure," said Uncle Bob. "I've seen nothing but a sheep or
two for hours, and they look so horribly stupid I don't think it is of
any use to ask them."

"Oh! We must meet some one if we keep on," said Uncle Dick. "What do
you say? Seems a pity not to climb that hill now we are so near."

"Yes, as we are out for a holiday," said Uncle Bob. "After to-day we
must put our necks in the collar and work. I vote for Dick."

"So do I," said Uncle Jack.

"Come along then, boys," cried Uncle Dick; and now we set ourselves
steadily to get over the ground, taking as straight a line as we could,
but having to deviate a good