HERON-HAWKING. 227 



better, for we have some good casts to fly. One is soon 

 'hooded off' at, and, after a capital flight, is taken high in 

 the air. The pet hawks are now taken in hand — 'De 

 Ruyter ' and ' Sultan ;' and, as there is no wind, the owner 

 says he will fly at the first 'light one! that comes at all 

 fair. All is excitement when one is seen coming from the 

 heronry, and therefore unweighted. They are 'hooded off' 

 in his face ; he sees them directly, and proceeds to mount. 

 ' Now, good hawks, you will have some work to do before 

 you overtake him !' The knowing riders are down wind as 

 hard as they can go. Ring after ring is made, and yet the 

 hawks seem to gain but little on him. Still they are 

 flying like swallows: 'De Ruyter' makes a tremendous 

 ring, but still fails to get above him. Again and again they 

 ring, and have attained a great height. A scream of delight 

 is heard : they are above him ; ' De Ruyter ' is at him ! 

 A fine stoop, but the heron dodges out of the way. Now 

 for ' Sultan ;' but she misses too ; the heron is up like a 

 shot, and three or four rings have to be made before there 

 is another stoop. Another and another stoop, with loud 

 cheers from below. ' Sultan ' just catches him once, but 

 can't hold ; it seems still a doubtful victory, when ' De 

 Ruyter ' hits him hard; and, after two or three more 

 stoops, ' Sultan ' catches him, amidst the excitement 

 of hurrahs and whoops ; a really good flight ; can't be 

 better, — two and a half miles from where they were 

 ' hooded off.' 



