HUNTING ON THE FELLS 79 



selves. It is an exciting moment when Reynard 

 springs up from his heather-covered ledge and 

 goes shooting through the dangerous crag-face, 

 en route for the open fell top. Hounds may be 

 practically all round him at the time, but he 

 dodges first one way and then another until he 

 is clear, and amongst the rocks and rough debris 

 of the fell- side, he is more than a match for the 

 fastest hound. 



If it is a clear day, with not too much wind, you 

 can both see and hear hounds at some distance. 

 If there is a mist, the music is your only guide to 

 the whereabouts of the pack. If scent is at all 

 good, not many minutes will elapse ere hounds 

 have disappeared beyond your ken. You follow 

 on, keeping to the good going on the fell top, and 

 ere long you hear them again in another dale, still 

 running strong. A thorough knowledge of the 

 country and the run of the foxes will enable you 

 to go far and more or less keep in touch, even on a 

 misty day. If you are a stranger, you will be wise 

 to stick to some local hunter, who will pilot you 

 safely, although possibly at a rather faster pace 

 than you deem compatible with such rough gomg. 

 Mist is the fell hunter's greatest bugbear. It may 

 roll up suddenly and block out your entire view, 

 shrouding j^ou in a dam^^, grey mantle. Then all 

 you can do is to pray for an occasional rift in the 

 vaporous screen which will afford you a gUmpse 



