FEB. ROE-HUNTING. 183 



these does the roe go at a foot's pace, hut managing 

 to keep always out of view ; by this he recovers 

 wind ; and, going slowly over the dry sand, leaves 

 as little scent as possible. 



It won't do, however : the beagles, headed by the 

 old dog, stick to his track, and wind in and out the 

 hillocks after him, keeping the scent in a manner 

 that is quite incredible. Away goes the buck 

 again to try a new scheme. He suddenly dashes 

 across a wide opening and gets to some high close 

 furze : through this he winds his way, followed, 

 however, by the relentless hounds, who, regardless 

 of rabbits, &c., stick to his scent, although it is 

 getting colder and colder. The evening is coming 

 on, and the frost is becoming severer. The rabbits, 

 too, help to put the dogs out. But the roe is 

 viewed as he passes out of the furze, and we run 

 him over some high hillocks which have great 

 clumps of furze on them. Here again we sud- 

 denly come to a check ; but, after searching some 

 time in vain for his track or scent, I unexpectedly 

 find his footmark in a deep dry drain which divides 

 the pasturage from the wooded wilderness. There 

 is no mistaking it. So I call the dogs, who, tired 

 and stiff as they are, come joyfully to the holloa. 

 At first they only sniff in an uncertain manner up 

 the drain ; but at last the youngest hound gives 



