THE RETORT COURTEOUS. i/7 



^ cry ; ' we sliall endeavour to sliow you what sport 

 we can, in tlie absence of fox-hunting/^ 



" But in the presence of true hunting/^ replied 

 I. The Master bowed in acknoAvledgment of the 

 little compliment. Strange, when a little polite- 

 ness so conciliates the feelings and good will of 

 others, how few persons attend to its call ! 



" See, ho ! '^ said I, gently to my friend, and 

 putting my hand on his arm. 



'^ See what ? '' said he. 



" Don^t you see her ? '' said 1 ; " a. hare ? '' 



"No, I do not.'' 



" Do you see that tuft of grass a little higher 

 than the rest ? '' 



" Yes.'' 



" Do you see anything shine there ? that is her 

 eyes." 



" Ah ! I see her now." 



"Now," said I, "this is my great objection to 

 hare-hunting ; when a fox-hunter is all enthusiasm, 

 a hare-hunter must be still as the grave." 



I held up my hat ; the Master and Huntsman 

 saw it ; the former came up to us. Old Mullins 

 kept on " Loak, loak ! " drawing his hounds away 

 from, instead of to, us. I pointed to the sitting 

 hare : the practised eye of the hare-hunter saw 

 her at once, and getting between her and his 

 hounds, he prepared to put her up, " Turn your 

 horse's head," said I, " and let her come this way." 



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