UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 205 



fitted to its thighs with as much care as if he 

 had been the tailor of a fashionable horseman. 

 I inquired the reason of so unusual a pro- 

 ceeding. e You will learn that,' said the conse- 

 quential master of hawks, ' when you see our 

 sport.' 



" The first hare seized by the falcon was very 

 strong, and the ground rough. While the bird 

 kept the claws of one foot fastened in the back 

 of its prey, the other was dragged along the 

 ground till it had an opportunity to lay hold of a 

 tuft of grass, by which it was enabled to stop the 

 course of the hare, whose efforts to escape 

 would have torn the hawk asunder, if it had not 

 been provided with the leather defences which I 

 have mentioned. 



" The next time the falcon was flown gave us 

 a proof of that extraordinary courage which its 

 whole appearance, particularly the eye, denoted. 

 It had stopped and quite disabled a hare by the 

 first pounce, when two greyhounds, which had 

 been slipped by mistake, came up, and endea- 

 voured to seize its prize. They were, however, 

 quickly repulsed by the falcon, and with a bold- 

 ness that excited our admiration and astonish- 

 ment." 



And now, dear mamma, I must go and pack up 

 my pretty writing-box which my uncle has given 

 me ; it holds paper, and pens, and ink, and pencils, 

 my journal and account-book, and every thing 



T 



