164- A WILD-CAT IIUXT IN CAROLINA. 



emerging from the cover, lie touched the open field. 

 The hounds rush to the spot, second his alarm, and 

 strike oft" at once for the margin near by. Hurra ! 

 they have struck a trail. Gather, huntsmen ! 

 Now we shall see sport ! The ground was favor- 

 able for the sportsmen, for a road ran parallel with 

 the direction of the cry, and thus the whole field 

 got placed, and took a fair start with the dogs. 

 " There they go ! Look ! for the hedge ! Bowser 

 leads he leaps the hedge ha ! he has overrun the 

 track. Black has caught it up it is all right! 

 There they go look at them ! listen to them ! 

 Huntsmen, is it not charming ? Does it not make 

 your pulse quicken ? Is there not a thrill of pleasure 

 shooting through your frame ? Can you tell your 

 name ? Have you a wife ? a child ? JETa/ve you a 

 neck?" If you can, at such a moment, answer 

 questions such as these, you do not feel your posi- 

 tion and are but half a sportsman ! 



The run was an uncommon one for a cat, as it 

 lay for a mile on end, through an open field. Fore- 

 warned of his danger, by the din which the dogs 

 had made in pursuit of the raccoon, he had made 

 this push, in order to get out of their reach. Vain 

 effort ! the scent lies too strong the nose of his 

 pursuers is too keen! And now, the sight was 

 exhilarating in the extreme. The pack ran in a 



