THE OTTER IN THE LYD. 133 



pack, fairly raced to Humber Wood. Here the 

 hare, finding her enemies unpleasantly near, made 

 a sharp turn back without entering the covert, 

 and the terriers ran Into her In the same field 

 from which she had started. So fast had been 

 the pace that all the field were distanced, only 

 one young man surviving to the end. Most of 

 the followers, Indeed, had found their way back, 

 and had settled themselves down to luncheon, 

 when straight into their midst came the hare 

 and her pursuers, sadly to the detriment of the 

 eatables, and in consequence more than one hungry 

 sportsman lost his well-earned meal. The gallant 

 survivor of the chase was presented with puss's 

 remains, and these he carefully tied up In his 

 handkerchief and started for home. 



Then came the excitement of the polecat, which 

 gave us some very good sport. At last he took 

 refuge at the top of some of the high wood of 

 the hedges, up which he climbed with great 

 agility, and when an adventurous sportsman tried 

 to destroy him, the beast sprang straight at his 

 head. Charmer, a small rough terrier celebrated 

 for her stoat-hunting propensities, at last gripped 

 the polecat ; but she paid dearly for her laurels, 

 and carried his hall-mark over her eye for the 

 rest of her life. 1 should like to have had the 

 polecat set up, as I believe he was the last of 

 his race in the Vale ; but I only succeeded In 

 saving his head from the rapacious little pack. 

 This I gave to a man to carry for me ; but he. 



