THE ANTIQUARY 189 



pursuers had been delayed in the ploughed 

 field as he expected : he had ample opportunity 

 for his manoeuvre. 



Yet the whole plan came to nought. On 

 reaching the chantry he suddenly leapt aside 

 as if from an ambuscade, for he found himself 

 in the presence of man. There on a rock 

 sat an antiquary sketching the ruin, and so 

 engrossed by his task that he never saw the 

 hare. Even if he had he would not have 

 raised a finger to scare it, much less betray 

 its refuge to the hounds. But the hare's faith 

 in man was gone. He fled down the hill 

 towards Brea Farm., save for the thud of the 

 fiail in the barn silent as in winter, and from 

 thence to the moor, over which he rather loped 

 than galloped, for he was getting exhausted. 



Meanwhile Sir Tudor had reached the 

 chantry. Despite the excitement of the chase 

 he reined in his mare, and looked for the first 

 time on Cornwall's fairest scene. 



'' Fine subject for a canvas," he said, address- 

 ing the antiquary. 



*'Yes, but not half so impressive as this old 

 oratory, with its memories." 



''Perhaps you are right," said the squire, 

 riding on again after the hounds, now streaming 

 over the boundary wall. 



