SHOOTING III 



dogs are borrowed from non-shooting men, who get 

 a couple of rabbits as an acknowledgment for the use 

 of their beagles. 



The dogs may be of all colours and sizes, but 

 they know their work, and are hardly likely to give 

 much trouble unless they hit the line of a fox, or 

 break away after a hare. In the latter case, however, 

 they generally bring her back, and can then be 

 stopped ; but once on the line of a fox they will at 

 times run for a couple of miles or so. The guns take 

 up their positions in the most likely places, generally 

 on a ' ride ' where there is a clear view in front, or in 

 an open glade where they can see to shoot for some 

 distance in every direction. The beagles search every 

 clump of brambles, and push through the decaying 

 bracken and thick undergrowth, until at last we hear 

 a whimper from one hound as he puts out a rabbit, 

 followed by a burst of music as the others rush up on 

 hearing him give tongue. The guns are able to tell 

 in which direction the rabbit has gone as the cry of 

 hounds approaches or retreats. Then comes a pause 

 as they overrun the line, a doubtful note succeeds, 

 which increases once more into a burst of melody as 

 they hit off the scent, and push the rabbit along at 

 top speed toward the guns. A flash of brown fur 

 across the ' ride,' and a snapshot as it disappears in the 



