COURSING 



somewhat sheepish, and then lie down together 

 on their sides, as if indeed about to die in defeat. 

 She has carried away her cocked fud unscathed 

 for the third time, from Three of the Best in all 

 broad Scotland — nor can there any longer be the 

 smallest doubt in the world, in the minds of the 

 most sceptical, that she is—what all the country 

 side had long known her to be — a Witch. . . .' 



One of the best coursing essays ever written is 

 that wherein *The Druid' describes Master M'Grath's 

 second Waterloo Gup in 1869. 



*The morning finds us at Lynn's once more, and 

 the cards of the day show that Master MGrath 

 has been drawn with Borealis. The latter has been 

 winning a good stake at Lytham, but **the talent" 

 have taken her measure well, as 25 to 1 can be got 

 about her for the Gup, and it is only 6 to 1 against 

 the black. All is life and activity among the coursers. 

 They are buttoning on leggings, and lighting pipes, 

 and driving bargains with hansoms and coaches, into 

 which they mount, looking like very jolly Gromwellian 

 pike-men, with their long mahogany-coloured leap- 

 ing poles. The route Hes principally by the dock 

 side, and its dusky forest of masts, till we strike 

 rather more inland at Formby, where the greyhound 

 trainers keep their charges. Seven or eight miles 

 bring us within sight of the Altcar plains at last. 

 On the left are interminable sand banks, tenanted 

 by coneys and vitriol works ; while ditches of all 



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