86 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



Suddenly the topmost branches of the great oak begin to 

 shake, and seem to be lashing the face of the moon. 



"De cat! de cat! look out down dar !" The dogs burst 

 into an eager howl ! He is shaking him oflf ! A dark object 

 comes thumping down into our midst, and shakes the ground 

 with its fall. The eager dogs rush upon it ! but we saw the 

 spotted thing with the electric flashing of its eyes. Yells 

 and sputtering screams — the howls of pain — the gnashing 

 growls of assault — the dark, tumbling struggle that is rolled, 

 with its fierce clamors, out from our fire-light into the dark 

 shadows of the wood, are all enough to madden us. 



We all rush after the fray, and strike wildly into its midst 

 with the clubs and dead limbs we have snatched, when one 

 of the body-guards happens to think of his axe, and with a 

 single blow settles it ! 



All is over ! We get home as we may, and about the 

 time 



* ■ the dapple grey coursers of the morn 



Beat up the light with their bright silver hoofs. 

 And chase it though the sky," 



we creep cautiously into our back window, and sleep not the 

 less profoundly for our fatigue, that we have to charge our 

 late hour of rising, next day, upon Bacon or the Iliad, in- 

 stead of the "Night Hunt." 



