32 THE MASTER OF GAME 



that for three causes, for when he fleeth against 

 the wind it runneth into his mouth and dryeth him 

 and doth him great harm. Therefore he fleeth 

 oft forth with the wind so that he may always 

 hear the hounds come after him. And also that 

 the hounds should not scent nor find him, for his 

 tail is in the wind and not his nose.^ Also, that 

 when the hounds be nigh him he may wind them 

 and hye him well from them. But nevertheless 

 his nature is for the most -part to flee ever on the 

 wind till he he nigh overcome^ or at the last side- 

 ways to the wind so that it be aye (ever) in his 

 nostrils. And when he shall hear that they be far 

 from him, he hieth him not too fast. And when 

 he is weary and hot, then he goeth to yield, and 

 soileth to some great river. And some time he 

 foils down in the water half a mile or more ere 

 he comes to land on any side. And that he doeth 

 for two reasons, the one is to make himself cold, 

 and for to refresh himself of the great heat that 

 he hath, the other is that the hounds and the 

 hunter may not come after him nor see his fues 

 in the water, as they do on the land. And if in 

 the country (there) is no great river he goeth then 

 to the little (one) and shall beat up the water or 



1 This should read as G. de F. has it (p. 20) : " Et aussi affin 

 que les chiens ne puissent bien assentir de luy, quar ilz auront 

 la Cueue au vent et non pas le nez" ("And also that the 

 hounds shall not be able to wind him, as they will have their 

 tails in the wind and not their noses "). 



