268 HARE-HUNTING AND HARRIERS 



since we found ; a capital run, the first hour of it very- 

 fast, the last forty minutes slow hunting, but none the 

 less extremely interesting, and to the two or three 

 youngsters who have watched it extremely instruc- 

 tive. And so, while the scattered little field collects 

 again, we take a welcome rest of ten minutes in the 

 good down air before drawing further. 



Here is a phase of sport with foot-harriers in another 

 part of East Sussex. The meet is at an old-fashioned 

 inn, close to the walls of Pevensey Castle. At 11-15 

 A.M. we make a move for the broad marshes just out- 

 side the village, and, as usual in this locality, have not 

 long to wait for a hare. Spreading out in line, we 

 draw a marsh pasture or two. Suddenly there is a 

 holloa behind. As so often happens amid the thick 

 grass of this kind of pasturage, chequered here and 

 there with tussocks and occasional patches of rush, 

 just the kind of lying for a hare, hounds and field have 

 passed over the very animal of which we are in search. 

 The holloa is from a noted finder of hares, who, hang- 

 ing behind as is his wont, has spied the hare snug in 

 her form. His hat is up ; we know that that signal 

 is unfailing, and, with one cheery blast from the horn, 

 hounds are collected and taken quietly back. When 

 the pack is within sixty yards of him the finder turns 

 back a pace or two, touches the still squatting hare 

 with his long staff, and away she flies for dear life, as 

 fast as those strong hind legs of hers can propel her. 

 With their usual rousing chorus on these occasions, 

 the hounds, mad with excitement, race after her. The 

 hare flies a dyke, skims along the bank, slips under a 

 gateway, and, descending the steep bank of another 

 dyke, is presently out of view. Hounds are now 

 brought to their noses, which is by far the best thing 

 for them. It is at once apparent that scent is first- 



