194 COVERT-SIDE SKETCHES. 



tlie hunting man in chase, and has but very slight ones on 

 liis way to the meet or during the homeward journey. I have 

 lumted over the greatest part of England and some part of 

 ^Scotland, and never in more than three, or at the outside 

 four, instances have I known a hunting man interfered with 

 in taking a short cut, and then it was by ignorant, purse- 

 proud men of small possessions as regards land. Of course, I 

 am aware that they only do as they do by courtesy, and, 

 as you may say, on their good behaviour ; but most men will, 

 I think, bear out what I say. A short cut to the meet, or 

 to save a tired horse a mile or two on the road home, are 

 held ample excuses for taking a route which would not be 

 dreamt of in an afternoon's ride. But this is not all as regards 

 scenery ; you not only can go where less favoured mortals 

 cannot, but the exigencies of the chase take you there ! This 

 is true of all hunting, but more especially of wild stag (or 

 liind) hunting. I shall never forget one kill I saw near 

 AVaters Meet. The stag had taken soil, and so steep was the 

 path from the road above to the river below, that even the 

 hardy Devon and Somerset men (who are by no means ac- 

 customed to stick at trifles in this way) dismounted, and, 

 leaving their horses, scrambled down as best they may, holding 

 by boughs and twigs to help them in their descent. When the 

 stream was reached, so closely did the boughs intertwine over- 

 head, that a shade deeper than that of the nave in York 

 Minster was produced. There stood the stag at bay, breast- 

 deep in the stream ; behind him a waterfall, with its torrent, 

 like a sheet of silver ; every stone, every boulder moss-covered 

 and dripping with moisture ; in fact, a tiny waterfall of itself. 

 Around him the baying pack, some swimming, others standing 

 on rocks, while the leafy canopy overhead, aided by the moun- 

 tain sides, made their melodious voices re-echo again and again. 

 Some dozen men in scarlet just served to light up the scene, 

 and throw in the colouring that made it perfect, were scat- 

 tered round j and to him who had eyes to see, it seemed like a 



