THE GRAVE OF THE SILENT HUNTER. 195 



table game and speed, he went sweeping through the thick, 

 primitive woods at a pace that would have terrified any other 

 sportsman on the open ground, clearing at flying leaps the 

 most extravagant perils, without notice, and always close with 

 the chase, cheering in ringing halloes his noble hounds ; or, on 

 our long rides to the distant hunting grounds by night, car- 

 rying chorus to some wild hunting song in the shrill blasts of 

 his curled bugle, cr to some touching balled of the ancient 

 chivalry, poured from his manly lips, rolling its soft accom- 

 paniment in mellowed clamors through the echoing hills, he 

 was still the splendid and consistent ideal of the north-Ken- 

 tucky fox-hunter of the generation following Clay and Crit- 

 tenden ! 



We soon knew each other ; and, as there were many points 

 of earnest congeniality between myself and the wild hunter, 

 we soon became frequent and inseparable companions, par- 

 ticularly on the long hunts to this rude region I have de- 

 scribed. 



It was now the last of -November that we started with 

 hound and horn for the hills, on the grand hunt of the year. 

 A snow storm had commenced the over night, and none but 

 a true hunter can realize the bounding delight with which 

 the first snow storm is welcomed. Then only comes his en- 

 joyments in highest perfection ! Now the game of every 

 kind is not only within his reach, but is in its highest 

 condition. He can himself trace it for miles and miles away 

 through the deep snow, until brought to bay at last, it falls 

 before his unerring aim. He has an exulting consciousness 

 of his independence, even of his dogs, for nothing can escape 

 his- practiced eye and tireless patience. The most exciting 

 of all hunts are proverbially those in the snow ; but in the 

 northern States they become disgusting very soon, as they 

 quickly degenerate into the merest butcheries, where the 

 snow, from three to four feet, remains upon the ground for 

 three or four months, with a crust over it just strong enough 



