120 OF THE GRAMPIAN HILLS. 



it was difficult to single out even these few. Captain 

 Hargreaves' drag, with a full load of passengers, was 

 brought up near the starting-point, and a barouche, 

 with four spicy bay, blood-like horses ; as well as 

 many carriages containing residents in the vicinity. 

 By noon the fog had entirely cleared away, and the 

 sky was cloudless, the sun shining with a brilliancy 

 worthy of olden times. Sol, in fact, after his long 

 seclusion, came out strong hot and strong, I may say 

 and as for the peck of March dust, bushels could have 

 been easily gathered : I took away more than I cared to 

 carry. Now Goodall appears on the scene with Bartlett 

 and his other whips, and thirteen and a half couples 

 of fine hounds. It was a difficult task to pilot them 

 through the surging crowd, but this was accomplished 

 satisfactorily. Then the order was given for the 

 uncarting of the deer, the doors were opened, and out 

 bounded Express one of the largest, Goodall told me, 

 he had ever seen. The crowd were wedged tightly in, 

 and no space was allowed for his passage ; however, he 

 took the matter in his own hands and cleared a 

 way for himself, knocking down the people like 

 ninepins, and making for the fields. After him 

 followed scores of impetuous horsemen. What 

 mattered it that the hounds were not even laid on, 

 and would not be for fifteen minutes the usual law 

 allowed ? Away they went, helter skelter, and were 

 soon lost to sight. Then Goodall brings up the pack ; 

 they are laid on the scent, which, in consequence of 

 the dry weather, was very indifferent, the fallow fields 

 being as hard as the turnpike-road, and quite as 

 dusty. At length they get away, followed by at least 



