40 A YEAR OF SPORT AND NATURAL HISTORY. 



who could not find it in his heart to kill a creature that had given 

 him so much diversion, A modern hunt with Beagles is not quite 

 like that, but it is, at any rate, an exhibition of animal sagacity 

 trained to perfection, and of stout endurance on the part of human 

 pursuers. If any doubt this, let them take their place in the 

 field when a pack of these miniature hounds is drawing for its 

 game, and make up their minds to follow as far as they can 

 when the game is on foot. At first the hare goes off on a wide 

 curve, as if heading straight for some distant coverts, and then 

 beginning to despise the speed of her puny pursuers, she squats, 

 with ears erect, listening for their approach. Presently, as 

 their chorus rolls towards her, she starts again, and it seems 

 scarcely an effort for her to distance them. But, following every 

 turn of the scent, they press forward eagerly, and stout runners 

 who are yet fresh enough to top the thorn fences in their stride 

 have as much as they can do to keep up with the pack. A 

 check, while the skein of some intricate doubles is being puzzled 

 out, gives slower pursuers a chance of coming up, and then the 

 merry music begins again. So, for nearly an hour, the chase goes 

 on in circles that slowly narrow. At last the hare doubles as 

 if in despair of being able to shake off her enemies. She is 

 reduced to her last shifts, and unless some accident befriends 

 her the end is inevitable. So long as scent holds the Beagles 

 will not leave it willingly, but often in spite of their determination, 

 the hare escapes by speed or cunning, and then some of the 

 best sportsmen do not feel great disappointment, for, like Sir 

 Roger de Coverley, they are loth to see a creature killed that has 

 given them so much diversion. 



