2 8 HARE-HUNTING AND HARRIERS 



I had taken my Station, in such manner as gave me 

 a very distinct View of the Sport. I could see her 

 first pass by, and the Dogs sometime afterwards un- 

 ravelhng the whole Track she had made, and following 

 her through all her Doubles. I was at the same time 

 delighted in observing that Deference which the rest 

 of the Pack paid to each particular Hound, according 

 to the Character he had acquired amongst them : If 

 they were at a Fault, and an old Hound of good reputa- 

 tion opened but once, he was immediately followed 

 by the whole Cry ; while a raw Dog, or one who was 

 a noted Liar, might have yelped his heart out without 

 being taken notice of.* 



" The Hare now, after having squatted two or three 

 times, and been put up again as often, came still nearer 

 to the Place, where she was at first started. The Dogs 

 pursued her and these were followed by the jolly 

 Knight, who rode upon a white Gelding, encompassed 

 by his Tenants and Servants, and chearing his Hounds 

 with all the Gaiety of Five and Twenty. One of the 

 Sportsmen rode up and told me that he was sure the 

 Chace was almost at an end, because the old Dogs, 

 which had hitherto lain behind, now headed the Pack. 

 The Fellow was in the right. Our Hare took a large 

 Field just under us, followed by the full Cry in View. 

 I must confess the brightness of the weather, the 

 Chearfulness of everything around me, the Chiding of 

 the Hounds, which was returned upon us in a double 

 echo from the neighbouring Hills, with the Hallowing 

 of the Sportsmen, and the Sounding of the Horn, lifted 

 my spirits into a most lively Pleasure, which I freely 

 indulged because I was sure it was innocent. If I was 



* This is excellent ! Addison evidently knew much more 

 about hounds and hunting than he would have his readers 

 believe. 



