Hunting in the Golden Days. 89 



Mr. Goodbery, who has a profound knowledge of 

 the tactics of hare-hunting, gradually ascends some 

 rising ground, knowing well that the fleet little pack 

 will not get far away and in all probability he will see 

 more of the sport from this eminence than he would if 

 he were pursuing them on the lower ground. As 

 soon as he has reached the spot from which he expects 

 to obtain the best view, he sits down and mops his 

 brow. It is wonderful how vividly the fatigue brings 

 home to one's mind, in moments like these, what horses 

 have to go through when carrying a heavy sportsman 

 to hounds. 



By the time Goodbery has well recovered his breath 

 and is thinking of again returning to his duties, the 

 hounds are working within easy distance of him, 

 and he can see at a glance that they have chopped 

 the hare in a little spinney. He descends to the now 

 elated pack, and is accosted by Eric, who good- 

 naturedly chaffs him about his want of condition. 

 Goodbery laughingly replies, that " he has no doubt that 

 he is a wee bit out of form, and rather thick in the wind, 

 and on the whole, perhaps, can play a better part, now- 

 adays, with knife and fork than in the capacity of 

 whipper in." 



Old Jowles, the huntsman, who cannot resist 

 the temptation of viewing the sport, has walked 

 out to give his opinion of hare-hunting. Not for a 

 moment does he wish to disparage the young master's 

 Ijelongings, but still he looks upon hare- hunting rather 

 as a sport only to be indulged in by schoolboys. 



Some of Jowles' remarks are very amusing. Not 

 many days ago whilst hunting, a farmer riding a rough- 

 looking lean horse was unwise enough to choose a 

 moment when the hounds were at a check to call the 



