HARE-HUNTING 



done so for some time, when, as I was at a little distance from 

 the rest of the company, I saw a hare pop from a small furze- 

 brake almost under my horse's feet. I marked the way she 

 took, which I endeavoured to make the company sensible of 

 by extending my arm ; but to no purpose, till Sir Roger, who 

 knows that none of my extraordinary motions are insignificant, 

 rode up to me, and asked me, if puss was gone that way ? 

 Upon my answering yes, he immediately called in the dogs, 

 and put them upon the scent. As they were going ofif, I heard 

 one of the country-fellows muttering to his companion, " that 

 'twas a wonder they had not lost all their sport, for want of the 

 silent gentleman's crying Stole away." 



' This, with my aversion to leaping hedges, made me with- 

 draw to a rising ground, from whence I could have the pleasure 

 of the whole chase, without the fatigue of keeping in with the 

 hounds. The hare immediately threw them above a mile 

 behind her ; but I was pleased to find, that instead of running 

 straight forwards, or in hunter's language, " flying the 

 country," as I was afraid she might have done, she wheeled 

 about, and described a sort of circle round the hill where I had 

 taken my station, in such a manner as gave me a very distinct 

 view of the sport. I could see her first pass by, and the dogs 

 sometime afterwards unravelling the whole track she had 

 made, and following her through all her doubles. I was at the 

 same time delighted in observing that deference which the rest 

 of the pack paid to each particular hound, according to the 

 character he had acquired amongst them. If they were at a 

 fault, and an old hound of reputation opened but once, he was 

 immediately followed by the whole cry ; while a raw dog, or 

 one who was a noted liar, might have yelped his heart out, 

 without being taken notice of. 



' The hare now, after having squatted two or three times, 



to her^ but proceed with the company to threshing the hedges for a wide compass, being 

 so sparing of their pains as often to beat over as beat a hare up. For my part I think 

 trailing fairly and starting the nicest part of the whole pastime, provided wind and 

 weather permit' (\Villiam Blaine). 



45 



