CHAPTEE XXXIIL 



THE ROYAL BUCKHOUNDS. 



[CCORDING to a long-3stablislied custom, 

 the Royal Buckhounds concluded their 

 season on Easter Monday. The meet 

 yesterday was Maidenhead Thicket, 

 where sufficient space is available to afford the 

 immense concourse of spectators who flock from all 

 quarters a view of the proceedings. " C'est 

 magnifique, mais ce n'est pas le sport," may be said 

 of the day's amusement. 



The populace on these occasions usually hunt the 

 stag themselves, dispensing with the services of 

 Frank Goodall and the hounds, and for a while have 

 it all to themselves. Great is the anxiety of the 

 assembled multitude to witness the uncarting of the 

 noble animal, and when he emerges from the van 

 the welkin is made to ring with an uproarious shout 

 sufficient to frighten from his propriety the most 

 gallant deer that ever roamed through woodland 

 wild. Should he succeed in making his way through 

 the crowd who encompass hun on every side and 

 get away into the open, he soon shows them a 

 clean pair of heels, and it is a case of catch him who 

 can. 



