ON PLAIN AND PEAK 



as they gallop for all they are worth, others coming 

 slowly and quietly along, and sitting up, from time 

 to time, to look round for a way of escape. Poor 

 things ! Sooner or later they almost all come to the 

 guns. Now and then one will boldly charge the 

 beaters the best chance for safety, if only they all 

 knew it. Sometimes a covey of partridges will 

 Hash down the wind, scattering right and left, and 

 testing one's skill to the uttermost as they rise high 

 in the air to clear the line; 



The firing grows fast and furious as the ring 

 grows smaller, for the hares are literally in droves. 

 Ten or a dozen hares are frequently lying dead in 

 front of one at the same moment ; and the guns 

 become almost too hot to hold. 



A blast from the horn of the head keeper at 

 length checks the advance. The circle is by this 

 time not much more than a hundred yards across, 

 and firing within it would soon become dangerous, 

 so the beaters open out, and form themselves in 

 groups behind each " gun," thus allowing the re- 

 maining animals egress and a run for life. 



In one drive of this kind five hundred or even 

 more hares are frequently killed. There is some- 

 thing about it, though, not quite in accordance with 

 one's notions of fair play, the animals being, as it 

 were, caught in a trap from which there is no 

 escape. 



90 



