146 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



Sam and his coadjutors emerge from the covert, the 

 pack leave their barn, and are taken carefully up to 

 a spot where it is convenient to lay on. A shep- 

 herd who has viewed the deer on the open moor 

 lifts his hat on a stick. We go to the signal — the 

 hounds press forward and are unrestrained — they 

 dash — fling their sterns — a whimper — a crash — 

 they are off, and a hundred horsemen follow as best 

 they may across the wild open waste. 



' The full-mouthed pack 

 With dreadful concert thunder in his rear ; 

 The woods reply, the hunters' cheering shouts 

 Float through the glades, and the wide forest rings. 



Such is the cry, 

 And such th' harmonious din ; the soldier deems 

 The battle kindling, and the statesman grave 

 Forgets his mighty cares, each sex and age 

 In the wild transport joins.' * 



The pace is tremendous — the ground uneven, 

 and often deep — already a tail, and many a gallant 

 steed sobbing. On — on still — till we come to the 

 Badgeworthy Water, a river, or large ' burn ' 

 running down by the covert bearing that name. 

 Now, Sam, show yourself worthy to bear the horn, 

 for there are few things requiring nicer judgment 

 and discretion than making a cast in water. 



* Somervile's ' Chace,' Bk. III., 11. 410-419. 



