CHAPTER XX. 



Hunting Sketches. 



Many years ago — it was in fact in 1876 — we had a run 

 with the Bramham Moor, which for enjoyment and 

 thorough completeness was, for the time it lasted, I think, 

 the best in my experience. It was but fifteen minutes in 

 duration and about four miles in distance, but in that 

 brief space was concentrated an amount of excitement 

 and exultation, that makes a run of this description remain 

 a bright spot in the dim vista of past years, like a par- 

 ticularly glittering star in the firmament. I confess I 

 thoroughly hold with the late Major Whyte Melville when 

 he says, " It is pace that puts life into the chase." A long 

 hunting run may be enjoyable in its way, and produce 

 plenty of incident. It lacks, however, the glorious 

 excitement of the gallop, when scent is breast-high, when 

 the pack begins to lengthen out as the faster members of 

 it forge their way to the front, and when all your skill is 

 required, though mounted on a bold, big-jumping, thorough- 

 bred horse, to keep the leading hounds in view, as they 

 fairly race over a sound grass country. Then it is that 

 the wonderful strength of the hind-quarters of a hunter is 

 thoroughly shown. In a really fast gallop it is said that 

 there should not be time to go a hundred yards out of the 

 line, or to stop to open a gate unless it is exactly in your 

 way, without losing the hounds; and fences of extraordinary 



