24 MEMOIR OF 



dripping velvet, knee-deep in the clear amber 

 water, the hounds around him, some struggling 

 in the deep pool, some rolling and tossing and 

 splashing in a mad half-terrified ring, as he 

 reared in the air on his great haunches, with 

 the sparkling beads running off his red mane, 

 and, dropping on his knees, plunged his antlers 

 among them with blows which would have 

 brought certain death with it if the yielding 

 water had not broken the shock." 



With such a scene enacted before his eyes, 

 Jack Russell must have been chained down to 

 remain a passive spectator for a single moment ; 

 nor, had Dr. Richards and all the Dons of 

 Oxford been present, could they have restrained 

 the wild impulse he felt to take part in the 

 fray ! A struggle it was for life and libertv ; 

 the last effort of the noble beast to escape 

 from his foes. Naturally, however, the young 

 hunter's sympathy being wholly with the 

 hounds, in he plunged waist-deep into the 

 flood, eager at once to encourage and help 

 them in the somewhat dangerous work of 

 capturing and killing the deer. 



That event speedily followed ; and Jack, 

 being duly "blooded" according to the usage 

 of the period, received an impression of stag- 

 hunting, deep-cut, enduring, and only to be 

 effaced when the stream of life ceased to flow 

 in his veins. 



