ISO WARWICK WOODLANDS. 



scared doubtless by some injudicious noise of our companions^ 

 and making a wide ring, had crossed three miles below the spot 

 where Jem was posted. This circuit we were forced to make, 

 as at first sight we fancied he had headed altogether back, and 

 it was four o'clock before we got upon his scent, hot, fresh, and 

 breast-high ; running toward the road, that is, due eastward 

 from the covert whence he had bolted in the morning. Nor 

 were our friends inactive ; for, guided by the clamors of our 

 pack, making the forest musical, they now held down the road ; 

 and, as the felon crossed, caught a long view of him as he limp* 

 ed over it, and laid the fresh hounds on. 



" A brilliant rally followed we calling off our wearied dogs ? 

 and hasting to the lower road, where we found Garry with the 

 sleighs, and dashing off in our turn through all sorts of by- 

 paths and wood-roads to head them once again ! This, with 

 much labor, we effected ; but the full winter-moon had risen, 

 and the innumerable stars were sparkling in the frosty skies, 

 when we flogged off the hounds kindled our night fires pre- 

 pared our evening meal, feasted, and spread our blankets, and 

 slept soundly under no warmer canopy than the blue firmament 

 secure that our lame friend would lie up for the night at no 

 great distance. With the first peep of dawn we were again 

 afoot, and, the snow still befriending us, we roused him from a 

 cedar-brake at about nine o'clock, cut him off three times with 

 fresh dogs and men, the second day, and passed the night, 

 some sixteen miles from home, in the rude hovel of a charcoal 

 burner. 



" Greater excitement I cannot imagine, than that wild, inde- 

 pendent chace ! sometimes on foot, cheering the hounds through 

 swamp and dingle, over rough cliffs and ledges where foot of 

 horse could avail nothing. Sometimes on horseback, galloping 

 merrily through the more open woodlands. Sometimes career- 

 ing in the flying sleigh, to the gay music of its bells, along the 

 wild wood-paths ! Well did we fare, too ay, sumptuously ! 

 for our outskirters, though they reserved their rifles for the 

 appropriate game, were not so sparing with the shot-gun ; so 

 that, night after night, our chaldron reeked with the mingled 

 steam of rabbit, quail, and partridge, seethed up a la Meg Mer~ 

 rilieSj with fat pork, onions, and potatoes by the Lord Harry ! 

 Frank, a glorious and unmatched consummee. 



" To make, however, a long tale short for every day's work, 

 although varied to the actors by thousands of minute but un- 



