146 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



leaf shook as if it were animated by a mysterious 

 spirit. We might say with the English that the 

 whole dark heath was alive. This illusion is pro- 

 duced, as may be guessed, by the work of the dogs, 

 who have become almost invisible, but who make the 

 dead branches crack, the leaves rustle, and the very 

 blades of grass stir. From time to time, however, 

 they showed themselves, and their white coats, 

 marked with black spots, formed a contrast with the 

 colour of the dry stems and tawny shrubs. All the 

 dogs were admirably patient, and glided into the 

 narrowest passages : it is true that the huntsman 

 guided them by signs, voice, and example. He called 

 them all by name, and addressed them in a language 

 quite new to me, but which appeared perfectly 

 familiar to them. A profound silence prevailed 

 among the hunters. 



6 All at once a bark, hoarse as that of a dreaming 

 dog, broke out from the centre of the brambles. To 

 this challenge other canine voices replied like so 

 many echoes, and were followed by more distinct 

 accents. The barking the last especially pro- 

 claimed that the fox was found. The point was now 

 to compel it to leave its entrenchments ; this was a 

 matter of several minutes. " Tally-ho ! tally-ho ! 

 gone away ! " (Voi-le ci alle ! s'en va, chiens, s'en va /) 

 the first whipper-in shouted, in a tone impossible to 

 note ; the huntsman blew his horn ; the scattered 

 dogs came together in a compact body ; and all the 



