44 The Tetcott Hunt CUeek. 



they appeared in greater force, and went on increasing 

 as the guns advanced to fresh ground. So that 

 when luncheon-time arrived, though two huge pasties 

 had been provided, and the old keeper carried his 

 own "apple creamy," apple pasty with some cream 

 inserted, and the shy man refused to eat as his 

 ** stomach wouldn't bear it," each one's share 

 amounted to only three inches of very heavy paste, 

 inclosing a bit of hard meat, which was washed 

 down with a modest pull at the cider firkin. Yet 

 they all seemed happy, and contented with their 

 repast, and on making a fresh start, laid hold of 

 their ''brishers" with renewed vigour. Indeed, so 

 excited was one of the boys, that, when a hare 

 jumped out of her form, he gave chase, and pre- 

 vented the guns from firing. '' Get out of the way, 

 you httle atterflitter," shouted my father, ''or I shall 

 shoot you." The boy began to zig-zag like a jack- 

 snipe, thus dodging, as he supposed, the shotsmen's 

 aim. He made for the gate forthwith, and got 

 behind its post. But from this shelter he ventured 

 forth again, when the hare had been rolled over. 

 The pleasure of picking up and handling a hare being 

 irresistible. And as the other guns had gone on, 

 and my father had discharged both barrels, there 

 was time to secure the prize and get back before he 

 had reloaded. But the boy was not happy until he 

 again put the fence between him and his enemy; 



