184 THE HUXTING-riELD. 



I admire his courage^ yet hold his death as the 

 ordinary fate of warfare. We can see a brave 

 fellow cut down in mortal fray; but the shriek 

 or moan of a woman appals the stoutest heart. 

 I cannot but feel^ in hare-hunting, I am pursuing 

 an animal that has no means of defence against 

 its destroyer. Cut her up by a shot, and the 

 thing is over ; even in a course, it is so short, we 

 kill her while in full vigour ; but the reeling gait 

 of a tired hare annoys me. There is no devihy 

 in it ; and without a spice of that, most things I 

 hold as tame. I really admire hare-hunting, but 

 I never could be a hare-hunter. 



" Well," said I, " as we have given our nags a 

 breathing for to-morrow, what do you say to 

 home and luncheon ? After that I have bespoke 

 a little fun for you; of a new kind, perhaps, to 

 you." 



"Whatever you like," courteously said my 

 guest. 



" Well then,''' said I, " we wdll do the amiable 

 to the master and men, and then get homewards." 

 " Loak ! loak !" w^as going old Mullins, trying for 

 another hare, when we popped half-a-crown each 

 into his hand, and my friend conciliated Sam by 

 the same token. " Allow me," said I, addressing 

 the Master, "to express my own and friend^s 

 regrets that we have an engagement that obliges 

 us to leave you, thanking you for as real a speci- 



