THE CHASE OF THE CARTED DEER. 263 



seldom to be seen at the end of a second. This is a most pal- 

 pable and incontrovertible demonstration that any horse may 

 folloiu, but none except thoroughbred horses can go icith 

 hounds. During the time the chase is suspended, and the 

 hounds are at bay (which is till the king gets up), the exhili- 

 rating sound of the horses before them, and the clamorous im- 

 patience of the hounds to proceed, constitute a scene so truly 

 rich and ecstatic, that the tears of excessive joy and grateful 

 sensibility may be frequently observed in almost every eye. 

 After this relief of a few minutes to both hounds and horses, 

 in which they collect their wind, and become proportionally 

 refreshed, the hounds are permitted to break away, which they 

 do with redoubled ardour, as if it had absolutely increased by 

 their recent restraint. The same scene of racing and tailing 

 continues, during every burst, to the termination of the chase, 

 the longer which is, the more the field of horsemen becomes 

 reduced, while the blood horses only move in perfect unison, 

 and at their common rating stroke, lay with ease by the side of 

 the hoTinds; and this is the reason why, in long runs, so many 

 are completely thrown out, and left to explore their way in 

 different parts of the country through which the chase has 

 passed. One material difference is known to exist between this 

 kind of sport and every other. The utmost fortitude and inde- 

 fatigable exertions are here made to save. In all the rest, the 

 summit of happiness, the sole gratification of local ambition, is 

 to kill; so that, at any rate, stag-hunting has the plea of 

 humanity in its favour, in proof of which, the hounds are never 

 known to run from chase to view, but every individual is 

 feelingly alive to the danger of the deer, who has so largely and 

 laboriously contributed to the completion of the general happi- 

 ness of the day. A secret inspiration operates on every latent 

 spring of human sensibility, and no difficulty, at the moment, 

 seems too great to surmount for the preservation of a life in 

 which every spectator feels himself most impressively concerned. 

 This final burst of the chase is most dreadfully severe, particu- 



