2 1 o WOLF-HUNTING. 



" Quite true, Frank ; it would be a cruel and short-sighted 

 policy on his part to allow his hounds to be slashed and ripped 

 to pieces, if by any means he has the power to save them, and 

 show sport at the same time ; and this last, you will allow, he 

 never fails to do." 



It was nearly two o'clock ere we fairly reached the outskirts of 

 the Castle rocks, which, covering an area of several acres on the 

 side of a precipitous hill, were approachable only in Indian file 

 over the last half league of ground. Happily, the rugged granite 

 slabs, although opposing our horses' progress with a slanting, and 

 sometimes an almost perpendicular, frontage, afforded their feet a 

 steady hold ; and, after some experience, my cob managed to 

 creep up and down over their rough surface, and follow Barbe- 

 bleu as if he had been trained to the work all his life long. It is 

 quite marvellous how readily a temperate, courageous horse will 

 accommodate his action to the ground over which he is required 

 to travel : shortening or lengthening his stride j jumping, creep- 

 ing, and feeling his way at every step ; or even slithering on his 

 haunches, as circumstances may need such a mode of descent. 

 How this last feat can be performed may be seen to great advan- 

 tage when a good jack-hare is found near Thunder-Barrow or 

 Telscombe Tye, on the Sussex Downs, the steep and glassy 

 slopes of which the horses descend at a terrific pace, almost 

 on their very haunches ; the force of gravitation, and not so 

 much their hind legs, acting as the propelling power. On Dart- 

 moor, too, a stranger would hold his breath if he once saw Mr. 

 Trelawny sitting back in' his saddle, and coming down the steepest 

 hill-side like an avalanche into the vale below, the greatest danger 

 being a tendency, on the horse's part, if the pilot be a wavering 

 one, to deviate from the straight line, and turn right or left on his 

 downward course. 



The wind from the rocks, as we now suddenly rounded a 

 point of the valley, blew directly towards us ; and the eager look 



