FEB. ROE-HUNTING. 181 



out getting shot : but occasionally he pays for his 

 depredations, notwithstanding his cunning. 



Soon after throwing off in one of the large covers 



near the sea, the hounds begin to find the cold 



scent of roe, and gradually working up to the 



thickets, often start the animal in view. Away 



they then go, making the woods echo again with 



their deep tones, the younger dogs taking the lead. 



The roe at first tries to avoid leaving the first 



division of wood in which he is found, but on the 



hounds sticking to him, he crosses some wide open 



heather and swamp to the higher grounds. Here 



the trees are older, with little underwood ; so after 



a rattling run through all this, I can reckon on 



their crossing the swamps again to the thickets, 



where the buck was first found. He comes to the 



head of the brae and stands listening to the hounds, 



carefully examining the wide flats of heath, wood, 



and swamp below him. The hounds come nearer 



and nearer, and still the buck seems unwilling 



to cross the open ground. At last the dogs are 



close to him, and then only he descends the bank, 



springing over the juniper, which is frequently six 



feet high, the staunch little pack threading their way 



through it. Across they go, and over the swamps, 



the buck springing from hillock to hillock wherever 



he can find footing. The beagles make their way 



