HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 147 



hunters,, digging in their spurs, started at a wild 

 gallop. Here, in fact, the run began. 



c There were shouts, a medley, a whirlwind of 

 men, horses, and dogs dashing along with a fury that 

 produced a dizziness. The pack especially proved 

 itself admirable through its impetuosity, discipline, 

 and courage. It was curious to see the laggard dogs 

 regaining their place even under the horses' hoofs, 

 and frequently at the risk of being crushed. Soon, 

 however, order was established a perfect order iu 

 spite of the impetuosity of the run. This order was 

 slightly relaxed by the advice of the squire; but 

 here another sort of difficulty presented itself. I 

 had hoped that the fox would lead us across a fine 

 plain which stretched out peacefully on our right. 

 In its malice it carefully avoided doing so, and led 

 us, on the contrary, to irregular ground, intersected 

 at every instant by hedges, ditches, and brambles, 

 where it expected to reach the skirt of a wood. 

 These obstacles were cleared at one bound by the 

 dogs, several of which, however, rolled on the top of 

 each other at the bottom of a ditch : they were 

 up again directly, though, and dashed on. Their 

 example was valiantly followed by the horses and 

 riders, who leaped like squirrels over all the fences. 

 Any one unaccustomed to this exercise had a chance 

 of breaking his neck every moment. Fortunately a. 

 few lads, induced by a chance of gain, opened the 

 gates that divided the fields, in order to let the rear 



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