A DOG HUNT ON THE BERWYNS 293 



to be seen. We held a council of war as to what 

 was to be done. I was the only horseman present 

 at first, but by-and-by the huntsman and others 

 came up, bog-besmeared, and in a vicious frame of 

 mind. We looked a queer group, as we sat in the 

 light of some dead fern that somebody had kindled. 

 Some were sitting on stones ; others kneeling down, 

 drinking from the brook ; some whipping the tired 

 dogs in, and others gesticulating wildly. 



One thing was evident — nothing more could be 

 done that evening ; and the hounds w^ere taken to 

 their temporary home, to rest all the morrow, and 

 resume the hunt on the day after. 



On the morrow, from earliest dawn, messengers 

 were coursing the glens in all directions, with invi- 

 tations to people far and near to come and assist in 

 the hunt. Eor myself, I was glad to rest my tired 

 limbs. Although pretty well used to mountain 

 work, I was quite done up ; still, I resolved to see 

 the end of the fun, and hired another pony. 



The day after, the men kept pouring in to the 

 place of rendezvous, till I was sure the majestic 

 hills had never before witnessed such an assem- 

 blage. From far and near they came. Many, like 

 myself, were mounted upon Welsh ponies. We 

 commenced beating; and the Berwyns rang with 

 the unearthly yells of the crowd. We reached 

 I u 



