HUNTING WITH BEAGLES. 39 



minds, it is of a sort that springs from no meaner motive than to 

 do the best they can with the powers nature has given them. A 

 well-ordered gathering with " Foot Beagles " might serve as a 

 model for some fashionable fox-hunters to follow. One rarely sees 

 a man out of his proper place, and sport is conducted according 

 to methods approved by all authorities who have written learnedly 

 on the noble science. Beagles attract a good many fair followers, 

 and though it cannot be said that a girl is at her best when 

 striding along in short skirts, knickerbockers, and field boots 

 after a pack in full cry, there are some who can do this well 

 without sacrifice of feminine grace. The majority of them, 

 however, will prefer to leave such exercises to men, and content 

 themselves with watching the chase from a distance that lends 

 enchantment to a sport in which, of necessity, rough manliness 

 finds more scope than refinement. Without being ridiculously 

 sentimental a woman may well object to take active part in the 

 final scenes when a timid hare is being pulled down. We know 

 nothing, in these days, of such a system as Sir Roger de Coverley 

 practised with his stop hounds after age had compelled him to 

 give up his Beagles. The Spectator tells us of his concern "on 

 account of the poor hare, that was now quite spent and almost 

 within reach of her enemies ; when the huntsman, getting forward, 

 threw down his pole before the dogs. They were now within 

 eight yards of that game, which they had been pursuing for 

 almost as many hours ; yet on the signal before mentioned 

 they all made a sudden stand, and though they continued opening 

 as much as before, durst not once attempt to pass the pole. 1 ' 

 No wonder that he was highly pleased with such a proof of 

 discipline in the pack, and with the good nature of the knight 



