380 iFuuQS Of tbe fDuntino==3Ficl^ 



replied as follows : — ' My stag-hunting adventure was 

 very funny. After carrying me well up to the hounds 

 for about twelve minutes or so, my horse fell into a 

 blind ditch attached to a fence, which would have 

 staggered any field unaccustomed to Irish "obstacles." I 

 lost a little time in getting my horse out, also my place 

 among the first few. When I got up to the road where 

 I lost sight of the leading men, I fell in with the hunts- 

 man heading the second flight. He made me gallop a 

 particular way, but finding that that was wrong, he turned 

 back, knowing that it would be of no use. After going 

 about twenty minutes, I saw what is called " the Hunt," 

 and expected to catch it over a hill just in front of me. 

 To my surprise, up came the stag, right to me, presently 

 three couple of hounds, and then eight couple more, but 

 no one in sight. Of course I followed this lot, and had 

 about three miles of splendid country all to myself 

 When the stag was taken, not a soul was to be seen, nor 

 did a horseman appear in sight until I had got to a road 

 five fields off, with the hounds, not one of whom knew 

 me. Some labourers appeared, who drove them to me ; 

 but when they disappeared, as they soon did, off went 

 my reluctant followers. In about ten minutes a stray 

 man appeared, and ten minutes later the whip, but not 

 a soul besides.' 



Apropos to this letter Mr Nethercote quotes the 

 following remarkable experience of a Mr Green, given 

 in his own words : ' Another curious thing \\hich I saw 

 during my visit to Ireland, was a stag, hounds, and 

 horses all run to a stand-still, or, at least, to such a state 

 of exhaustion that none of them could move so fast as I 

 could walk. I was sitting by myself one afternoon, 

 when I heard the cry of hounds as if crossing the park. 



