DEER HUNTING. 247 



land, not pent in cities, but dwelling on their estates ; there 

 we find hunters, far amours, if I may so express myself, and 

 packs of hounds maintained regularly, and hunted with all legi- 

 timate accompaniments of well-blown bugle and well-whooped 

 halloo ; with mounted cavaliers, fearlessly riding thorough bush, 

 thorough briar, over flood, over mire, taking bold leaps at fallen 

 trees and deep bayous in the forest lands, at sturdy timber fences 

 or dense hedges and broad drains, if the chase lead across the 

 t)pen ; and riding, one against the other, as fearlessly and as 

 desperately, for the first blood, or the kill, as they do in old 

 England, in Leicester or Northampton, to the Q,uorn hounds, or 

 the Squire's lady pack. 



This is the sport, par excellence. He who has ridden once to 

 a good pack, in the open, over a good scenting country, with a 

 well-bred one under him, whether the game be '■'' pug''' in Eng- 

 land, or a ten-antlered buck in Carolina, will hold Deer-driving 

 or Deer-stalking as mighty slow sport in all time thereafter. 



It is true that, in the South, the fowlingpiece and buck-shot 

 is a part of the hunter's equipment, and that the aim of the rider 

 is to come within gun-shot of the buck, — not to see the hounds 

 run into him fairly ; but this is unavoidable, from the woodland 

 and marshy character of the country, and from the consequent 

 impossibility of riding up to hounds, for any considerable length 

 of time, or, in any event, through a whole run. The Deer know 

 too well their advantage in the covert, to attempt more than an 

 occasional burst across the open ; and, therefore, the mounted 

 hunter's skill is oftener taxed to make happy and knowing 

 nicks, whereby to ride the chord of the arc, or the hypothenuse 

 of the triangle on which the hounds are running, than to hold 

 his own across the open, neck and neck with the leading dog, 

 taking everything in his stride, with a firm foot in the stirrup, a 

 light hand on the rein, and an easy seat in the saddle. And 

 a thorough knowledge of the country, added to good horseman- 

 ship, will generally beat the greatest nerve in riding and the 

 best horseflesh, if the nag be not piloted by one who knows the 

 lay of the land. 



