I40 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



noble hound springs from his place, clears the 

 youngsters, and in a moment is rolling on the 

 green sward, and giving utterance to his joy in 

 notes loud, deep, and prolonged. ' Constant ! 

 Constant ! ' cries Sam, and the wary old bitch steps 

 round the door-post as if by magic, and whence 

 nobody can tell. ' Rewin ! Rewin ! ' cries the 

 huntsman ; and after a few coy wriggles and yells, 

 pretty ' Ruin ' is emancipated, and displays her joy 

 by knocking down a small boy and defacing a 

 spotless pair of leathers, the property of a gentle- 

 man who is very particular about his costume. 

 ' Trojan ' next responds to the summons, and the 

 tale of the tufters is complete. Sam shuts the door, 

 leaves the pack under the care of the whip, mounts 

 his hack, tries the effect of his voice to silence the 

 hounds he leaves behind him, and which, to testify 

 their disappointment, lift up their voices and lament, 

 but in vain, and off we go to the edge of the covert, 

 where, under a friendly oak tree, we take up our 

 position, while Sam and the harbourer proceed to 

 perform their duties. Then come the tale, the jest, 

 the greetings of those who from time to time arrive ; 

 though we keep our ears open to catch the welcome 

 sound, the prelude to the chase, for which we burn. 

 Hark ! ' Constant ' speaks, ' Ruin ' confirms it. The 



