re the day was over--or rather, before the night
was far advanced--he had borrowed three others, in his course about
the country, for himself and his servants. Quick as lightning he went
from covert to covert; but the conspiracy had been well arranged,
and a holiday for the foxes in County Galway was established for
that day. Some men were very stanch to him, going with him whither
they knew not, so that "poor dear Tom" might not be left alone; but
alone he was during the long evening of that day, as far as all
conversation went. He spoke to no one, except to Barney, and to him
only a few words; giving him a direction as to where he should go
next, and into what covert he should put the hounds. They, too, must
have been much surprised and very weary, as they dragged their tired
limbs to their kennel, at about eight o'clock. And Tom Daly's ride
across the country will long be remembered, and the exertions which
he made to find a fox on that day.

But it was all in vain. As Tom ate his solitary mutton-chop, and
drank his cold whisky and water, and then took himself to bed, he was
a melancholy man. The occupation of his life, he thought, was gone.
These reprobates, whom he now hated worse than ever, having learned
their powers to disturb the amusements of their betters, would never
allow another day's hunting in the county. He was aware now, though
he never had thought of it before, by how weak a hold his right of
hunting the country was held. He and his hounds could go into any
covert; but so also could any other man, with or without hounds. To
disturb a fox, three or four men would suffice; one would suffice
according to Tom's idea of a fox. The occupation of his life was
over.

Tom Daly was by nature a melancholy man. All County Galway knew that.
He was a man not given to many words, by no means devoted to sport
in the ordinary sense. It was a hard business that he had undertaken.
The work was in every sense hard, and the payment made was very
small. In fact no payment was made, other than that of his being
lifted into a position in which he was able to hold his head high
among gentlemen of property. What should he do with himself during
the remainder of his life, if hunting in County Galway was brought to
an end? He was an intent, eager man, whom it was hard to teach that
the occupations of his life were less worthy than those of other men.
But there had come moments of doubt as he had sat alone in his little
room a