HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 95 



Baron trots off, looking rather rudely from side 

 to side, with an expression which clearly states 

 his opinion that the present company is not 

 good enough for him. An open gate lets him 

 out of the first field ; the next is bounded by a 

 fair hunting fence. Approaching it no faster 

 than he would do if his intention were to browse 

 upon it, he makes a half halt, and as we wonder 

 what his game is, he rises in the air like a rocket 

 and vanishes over the hedge. Now commences 

 a stampede. Down the road go traps of all 

 descriptions encircled by crowds of excited and 

 incompetent horsemen. A gold-laced ofhcial 

 follows the stag, and his mission is a subject of 

 great speculation amongst the populace. He 

 does nothing much, however, and at length 

 stands still, the centre of an awe-struck and 

 admiring crowd, omne ignotum pro magnifico. 

 At length and at last the hounds are laid on, and 

 something less than a score of horsement start 

 with them. The rest are staring at the yeoman 

 pricker, or whatever the man may be called who 

 has been, as it were, wishing the deer bon 

 voyage. As a rule the hounds are stopped at 

 the place where the deer has showed his heels 

 to the ofJficial ; but on this occasion, plenty of 

 law having been given, and scent seeming in- 

 different (indeed, the ground was foiled with 

 hares and sheep, besides horses), hounds went 

 on, and the fun began. 



Two or three friendly gates produced com- 

 petition rather than politeness. A fair stake- 

 and-bound fence, however, put matters a little 

 to rights ; and Lord Carington sets a good 



