182 



FIELD-NOTES FOR THE YEAR. CH. XIII. 



wonderfully, often in view, but as often tumbling 

 into the holes of water which they sometimes can 

 scarcely get out of; however, I am generally at 

 hand to help them, and once again on terra firma, 

 off they go headed by old " Durwood," who begins 

 now to think of killing. Straight through the 

 thicket where we first found, across a wide tract of 

 smaller and more open wood, they run without a 

 moment's check, startling the blackcocks, who, 

 rising as the hounds pass, perch on the summits of 

 the fir-trees, looking down with wonder at what is 

 going on. Away goes the roe, not fifty yards ahead 

 of his persevering little followers, and they are now 

 all in a wide tract of fir-wood, with the rankest 

 heather in it that I ever saw: straight through this 

 they go to the very sea-shore, putting up the curlews 

 as they skirt the sands. But it is of no use ; the 

 beagles become more eager every moment, and after 

 half an hour's hard running round this tract near 

 the shore, the buck seems suddenly to change his 

 mind, and turns directly inland again, at a sharp 

 angle to his course. A short, but very short check 

 ensues ; the hounds are soon in full cry again, and 

 after pressing him hard through the cover, he is 

 driven to some sandy hillocks in the midst of the 

 wilderness — and here comes the trial of the hounds. 

 Up and down, and round and round every one of 



