CHAPTER XV. 



THE EOTAL BUCKHOUNDS. 



YESTERDAY being Easter Monday, the customary large 

 concourse of holiday folks assembled at Maidenhead 

 Thicket,, in order to be present at the " meet " of the 

 Royal Buckhounds, and to witness the uncarting of the 

 stag. The proceedings on these festive occasions are 

 not restrained by any of the rules usually followed in 

 pursuing this branch of sport, the pedestrians taking 

 for the nonce the place of the hounds ; the stag, when 

 emerging from the van, being received with shouts of 

 uproarious delight, and pursued by the multitude until 

 he contrives to make his way through the brushwood 

 and takes to the open country, soon, however, leaving 

 that portion of his pursuers behind. The royal 

 huntsman carefully threads his way, and, by judiciously 

 adopting a circuitous route, is enabled to save his 

 hounds from the danger attendant upon the rush of 

 those on horseback and in vehicles who play the second 

 part in the chase, pursuing, as long as they are able, 

 the flying quarry, and when it has successfully shown 

 them a clean pair of heels, then Goodall lays on his- 

 hounds, and a more or less good run results, according 

 to circumstances. Sometimes the stag is so bewildered 



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