io6 The Amateur Poacher' 



along the line of coverts ; and from that narrow perch 

 on the cliff the whole field came into sight at once. 

 There was Reynard slipping ahead, and two or more 

 fields behind the foremost of the pack, while the 

 rest, rushing after, made the hills resound with their 

 chiding. The leaders taking the hedges, the main 

 squadron splashing through a marshy place, the out- 

 siders straining to come up, and the last man behind, 

 who rode harder than any— all could be seen at the 

 same time. 



It was a lovely spot, too, for dreaming on a 

 summer's day, reclining on the turf, with the harebells 

 swinging in the faint breeze. The extreme solitude 

 was its charm : no lanes or tracks other than those 

 purely pastoral came near. There were woods on 

 either hand ; in the fir plantations the jays chattered 

 unceasingly. The broad landscape stretched out to 

 the illimitable distance, till the power of the eye failed 

 and could trace it no farther. But if the gaze was 

 lifted it looked into blue space— the azure heaven not 

 only overhead, but, as it seemed, all around. 



Dickon was always to and fro the mansion here, 

 and took me with him. His object was ostensibly 

 business : now it was a horse to buy, now a fat 

 bullock or sheep ; now it was an acre or two of wood 

 that was to be cut. The people of the mansion were 



