234 HARE-HUNTING AND HARRIERS 



shire will show that hare, hounds, and huntsman must 

 have passed through a large number of parishes 

 during the course of this wonderful run. 



The best run I have ever myself seen with a hare, 

 whether hunting on horseback or on foot, happened 

 with the Hailsham harriers on November 24, 1900. 

 We met at Pevensey, the day being dull but fine, with 

 a mild, light breeze from the south-east. Quickly 

 finding a hare, hounds pushed her out on to the marshes 

 parallel with the sea. After running up wind for three- 

 quarters of a mile or so, the hare turned short back, 

 and, running right through a number of spectators, 

 amid much noise, holloaing and hubbub, sustained, 

 I suppose, such a fright that she set her face straight 

 for the inland country, and neither turned nor dallied 

 for another yard. Heading northward, straight across 

 the wide marshes, she quitted her own country and, 

 crossing Manxey Level, passed Horse-Eye, and swam 

 the Hurst Haven, a broadish stream which runs into 

 the sea on this part of the Sussex coast. Now leaning 

 a little towards Hailsham she presently changed her 

 mind, bore right-handed and sped on for New Bridge 

 and Herstmonceux. Coming round the castle she 

 was disturbed by some villagers and ran on to Wart- 

 ling Hill, where, on some ploughing just below the 

 church, a check occurred. Scent, from the very 

 beginning of the hunt, had been a burning one, and 

 hounds ran with a beautiful cry and with the greatest 

 fire and resolution. The field had, from the severity 

 of the pace and the straightness of the run, been left 

 far behind, some stopped by lack of wind, others 

 by the broad and deep dykes scattered over the 

 marsh ; and at Wartling Hill, as we trotted up 

 towards the hounds, only five or six were left 

 to fight it out. Among these were Mr. Rupert 



