136 PINK AND SCARLET 



there are the tracks. — Let's go and ask the plough- 

 man, 



" Seen the hounds ? " 



" Yes, they was there." 



" Which way did they go ? " 



" Can't exactly say, they went away t'other side 

 of the wood." 



Down the ride at a gallop, and out at the far 

 side. 



Now which way ? 



Tracks ? Yes, diagonally across the field, a gap 

 or two in that fence and the next, and surely some- 

 thing must have made those sheep huddle up to- 

 gether like that. 



Was that a halloa, or a boy scaring rooks ? Our 

 horse pricks his ears and looks in the direction. 

 He can be trusted to hear sounds much bettei' than 

 we, so let us any way go to the rising ground 

 beyond the sheep and see if we can see anything. 



Ah ! those labourers are looking in the same 

 direction, the cattle further on are running about 

 excitedly, and surely there's the tail of the hunt just 

 disappearing over the far hill ? 



Yes, that's a pink coat. What a start they have 

 got — Must be a scent — Will never be late again. 



Now, however, there is nothing for it but to 

 try and get up to them gradually in the way so 

 charmingly described on pp. 197 — 200 o{ Riding 

 Recollections. 



And what is there to be learnt in all this ? 



The right interpretation of sights and sounds by 



