Lurcher- Land. 101 



under us not fifty yards away, as we stand panting on 

 the hill. The youngest hound gains, and runs right 

 over her ; she doubles, the older hound picks up the 

 running. By a furze-bush she doubles again ; but 

 the young one turns her the next moment she is in 

 the jaws of the old dog. 



Again and again the hounds are slipped, now one 

 couple, now the other : we pant, and can scarcely 

 speak with running, but the wild excitement of the 

 hour and the sweet pure air of the Downs supply 

 fresh strength. The little lad brings the mare any- 

 where : through the furze, among the flint-pits, jolting 

 over the ruts, she rattles along with sure alacrity. 

 There are five hares in the sack under the straw when 

 at last we get up and slowly drive down to the high- 

 way, reaching it some two miles from where we left it. 

 Dickon sends the dogs home by the boy on foot ; we 

 drive round and return to the village by a different 

 route, entering it from the opposite direction. 



The reason of these things is that Sarsen has no 

 great landlord. There are fifty small proprietors, and 

 not a single resident magistrate. Besides the small 

 farmers, there are scores of cottage owners, every one 

 of whom is perfectly independent. Nobody cares 

 for anybody. It is a republic without even the sem- 

 blance of a Government. It is liberty, equality, and 



