TWO HARE-HUNTS 



ing his hat in the air. We know his tidings to be 

 unimpeachable, and, with a cheery blast from the 

 master's horn, hounds are rapidly trotted back. 



With nearly all harrier packs you will discover some 

 one man who has the curious and very useful knack of 

 finding hares. Our "finder" seldom fails us during 

 a day's hunting, and when his hat goes up you may be 

 absolutely certain that we shall have a run. Hare-find- 

 ing is, in truth, a gift with which only a few men are 

 endowed. This morning, as soon as our friend found 

 his hare, he moved quietly aside as if he had not per- 

 ceived her. She squeezed a trifle away from him, but 

 did not quit her seat. If his eye had caught hers, she 

 would most probably have jumped up and been away 

 with too long a start. As it was, our judicious friend 

 took care that his eye should not meet hers, and edged 

 quietly away. Thus puss was inveigled and lay snugly 

 in her form. But now hounds are within reasonable 

 distance, and the hare-finder thinks it time to put up 

 the quarry. She leaps from her warm seat, and with 

 springy strides, speeds away as if she would never halt 

 again. But we all know better. 



Now hounds are up to the seat she has just vacated, 

 and, with a glorious burst of music, the pack opens 

 upon the warm scent. The hare has a fair start, and it 

 is quickly evident that she is about to treat us to a ring- 

 ing chase to start with. If she had jumped up in the 

 middle of hounds, as not infrequently happens, she 

 might have sustained such a fright as would have 

 driven her clean away out of her accustomed country, 

 and afforded a good straight run. Now and then, un- 

 doubtedly, a view is a capital thing for a pack and in- 

 creases keenness ; on the other hand, if hounds are of 

 fox-hound blood and somewhat over-fast for their quarry, 

 or if they are inclined to wildness, it is not always 



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