FIRST COUNTRY BOOKS 137 



The rendezvous is a small fir plantation, the young trees 

 in which are but shoulder-high. Below is a plain entirely 

 surrounded by the hills, and partly green with root crops ; 

 more than one flock of sheep is down there, and two 

 teams ploughing the stubble. Neither the ploughman 

 nor the shepherds take the least heed of us, except to 

 watch for the sport. The spare couple are fastened in 

 the trap ; the boy jumps up and takes the reins. Dickon 

 puts the slip on the couple that are to run first, and we 

 begin to range. 



' Just at the foot of the hill the grass is tall and grey ; 

 there, too, are the dead dry stalks of many plants that 

 cultivation has driven from the ploughed fields, and that 

 find a refuge at the edge. A hare starts from the verge 

 and makes up the Downs. Dickon slips the hounds, and 

 a faint halloo comes from the shepherds and ploughmen. 

 It is a beautiful sight to see the hounds bound over the 

 sward ; the sinewy back bends like a bow, but a bow 

 that, instead of an arrow, shoots itself ; the deep chests 

 drink the air. Is there any moment as joyful in life as 

 the second when the chase begins ? As we gaze, before 

 we even step forward, the hare is over the ridge and out 

 of sight. Then we race and tear up the slope ; then the 

 boy in the trap grasps the reins, and away goes the mare 

 out of sight, too. 



' Dickon is long and raw-boned, a powerful fellow, strong 

 of limb, and twice my build ; but he sips too often at the 

 brown brandy, and after the first burst I can head him. 

 But he knows the hills and the route the hare will take, 

 so that I have but to keep pace. In five minutes, as 

 we cross a ridge, we see the game again ; the hare is 

 circling back — she passes under us not fifty yards away, 

 as we stand panting on the hill. The youngest hound 

 gains, and runs right over her ; she doubles ; the older 

 hound picks up the running. By a furze-bush she doubles 

 again ; but the young one turns her — the next moment 

 she is in the jaws of the old dog. 



' Again and again the hounds are slipped, now one 



