THE HUNTED HARE. 215 



the proceedings and manoeuvres of the hunted 

 animal. The circle was at first wide, and the hare, 

 with her pursuers, passed close under me at a 

 rapid rate, there being only a short distance be- 

 tween them. The next circle was much more cir- 

 cumscribed, and poor pussy returned jaded, 

 fagged, and completely beaten to within twenty 

 yards of my position. The hounds were then 

 some distance behind her. She ran forward for 

 about a hundred yards on the open down, then, 

 carefully retracing her steps, threw herself off her 

 line, by a few faint bounds, into a small ravine, 

 where she lay, with her head turned to face and 

 watch the approach of her enemies. 



I never shall forget the intense anxiety I then 

 experienced for the fate of this poor little hare, 

 neither could I forbear almost identifying myself 

 with her feelings at this agonizing and critical 

 moment. I could realize what my own sensations 

 would have been had I been flying from a band of 

 Indian savages, and could h^ar their yells, and see 

 from my ambush their dark forms leaping and 

 bounding past, brushing the very bush in which I 

 lay. One by one they flit by me, leaving my 

 hiding-place undiscovered, screaming, shouting, 

 with glaring eye-balls flashing fire, and out-hang- 

 ing tongues. My heart beats audibly, painfully. 



