Foot Beagles 219 



bridge. The highway crosses the stream some three hundred 

 yards below. It is a long way, but a dry one and that settled it. 

 I own to funking such a bath in November with a bridge in 

 sight. A few moments later the beagles are swimming in 

 mid-stream followed by the Master and whippers-in, who noth- 

 ing daunted, plunged into the stream and are wading waist- 

 deep to the opposite bank. The bridge crossed, we are lost to 

 the pack; beagles and all have disappeared over the crest of 

 the liill and not even a mellow note comes back to locate their 

 whereabouts and cheer us on. Upon the crest of the liill how- 

 ever, stands a shepherd, outlined against the sky, waving his 

 arms in wild gesticulation. We soon come up to him, but 

 excitement has run riot with his tongue, for his gibberish is 

 quite unintelligible. 



There is something picturesque about the British "nav\y" 

 when liis sporting blood is up. Picturesque in his soiled, ill- 

 shaped and patched garb, his unkempt beard and native 

 speech. Something truly unaccountable, in his wild enthu- 

 siasm for field sports. The voice of a hound warms his blood 

 to fervid heat. A wild desire to run and cheer on the labour- 

 ing hounds possesses him. In his disconnected speech and 

 bright eyes one hears the voice and seems to be accosted by the 

 fellow's early Saxon ancestors. The gist of his words, how- 

 ever, was to tliis effect: 



"I just seed 'im 'ere, sir, just 'ere now, sir, goin' down 

 behindt the 'edge. Thor now, look thor, sir, 'ear 'em, those be 

 good music, sir." 



Presently the pack came to view, circling toward us. Evi- 

 dently from their direction, the hare had again turned, bent 

 upon doubling and recrossing the stream. Doubtless the 

 shepherd with his frantic gestures had alread}^ turned the 

 hare, for the beagles, first heading for the stream again, were 

 now circling away in the opposite direction, toward a neighbour- 

 ing chapel. Puss must now give in or outwit his pursuers. 



