at which had
stopped them at Moytubber. Kilcornan is a large demesne, into which
they would, in the ordinary course, have made their entrance through
the lodge gate. At present they went at once to an outlying covert,
which was supposed to be especially the abode of foxes; but even
here, as Barney trotted up with his hounds, at a pace much quicker
than usual, they found that the ground before them had been occupied
by Landleaguers. "You'll not do much in the hunting way to-day,
Muster Daly," said one of the intruders. "When we heard you were
a-coming we had a little hunt of our own. There ain't a fox anywhere
about the place now, Muster Daly." Tom Daly turned round and sat on
his big black horse, frowning at the world before him; a sorrowful
man. What shall we do next? It does not behove a master of hounds
to seek counsel in difficulty from anyone. A man, if he is master,
should be sufficient to himself in all emergencies. No man felt this
more clearly than did Black Tom Daly. He had been ashamed of himself
once this morning, because he had taken advice from Mr. Persse. But
now he must think the matter out for himself and follow his own
devices.

It was as yet only two o'clock, but he had come on at a great pace,
taking much more out of his horse than was usual to him on such
occasions. But, sitting there, he did make up his mind. He would go
on to Mr. Lambert's place at Clare, and would draw the coverts, going
there as fast as the horse's legs would carry him. There he would
borrow two horses if it were possible, but one, at least, for Barney
Smith. Then he would draw back by impossible routes, to the kennels
at Ahaseragh. Men might come with him or might go; but to none would
he tell his mind. If Providence would only send him a fox on the
route, all things, he thought, might still be well with him. It would
be odd if he and Barney Smith, between them, were not able to give
an account of that fox when they had done with him. But if he should
find no such fox--if he, the master of the Galway hounds, should have
ridden backwards and forwards across County Galway, and have been
impeded altogether in his efforts by wretched Landleaguers, then--as
he thought--a final day would have to come for him.

He spoke no word to anyone, but he did go on just as he proposed to
himself. He drew Clare, but drew it blank; and then, leaving his own
horses, he borrowed two others for himself and Barney, and went on
upon his route. Befo