io8 HARE-HUNTING 



hare-hunter, whose indignation and contempt 

 is becoming' too strong^ for words at the 

 levity with which I speak of his sport, let 

 him keep cool and take comfort, for have not 

 I, as prescribed by the ancient rules of the 

 Cleveland Hunt Club, laid my right hand 

 on the hunting-horn and solemnly declared 

 myself to be "no enemy to fox-hunting and 

 harriers." Let me answer such an one that 

 I, like him, regard the man who is so inno- 

 cent of sport that he declares the triumph 

 over the timid hare to be poor, as an ignorant 

 simpleton ; and if any one with superior airs 

 were to hazard such a statement to me, my 

 reply would be ** All right, my boy ! you try 

 your hand on an old buck hare on a cold 

 scenting day in February, on horseback, if 

 you like ; or, if that is too easy, get off and 



