CHAPTER III 



HUNTING 



The motives inducing people to hunt are very 

 various, but when once the object of pursuit is 

 found and on foot, whether it is a stag, fox, 

 or hare, one spirit dominates every one for the 

 time being, trouble and cares are for the moment 

 flung to the winds, and everything is forgotten in 

 the excitement of the chase. 



It is surprising to witness the celerity with 

 which the different units that compose the field 

 group themselves under different leaders, as soon 

 as the covert is left behind, into divisions which 

 are well defined to the close observer, and each of 

 which, unless hopelessly thrown out or tailed off, 

 lays the flattering unction to its soul that it has 

 seen the run thoroughly from start to finish. It 

 is not, indeed, necessary to jump every fence the 

 hounds cross to be really in the run ; and even 

 those gallant riders who care for nothing except 

 being at the very tail of the pack, and whose 

 ardent wish it is to be the first over every big 

 fence, do not always see the incidents of the chase 

 so well as those who have never jumped a fence 

 at all, if lanes and gates have fortunately proved 



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