XXV 
THE SAM BUR 
323 
Plain. Hurrah for him at last! and away we 
went full tilt. When within a mile of the plain, 
sure enough there was a stag’s track in the 
muddy path as fresh as a daisy ; the toes widely 
spread, proving the speed, together with innumer¬ 
able tracks of dogs all taking the same direction. 
“ Yelling continuous shouts of encouragement 
in the hopes of cheering the hounds as we 
galloped on, we at length reached the plains. 
There to our joy we saw Bran and Lucifer (two 
greyhounds), who, having heard our shouts, were 
coming to meet us. These dogs had actually 
been hunting with the pack throughout the day, 
and there was now no doubt that the stag was 
not far distant. Lena had kept with us, therefore 
we had a fresh seizer. Leaving the road, and 
riding into the plain, we stopped and listened. 
The panting and snorting of the horses, which 
had come 3 miles at full speed, at first hushed 
all other sounds, but presently we could distin¬ 
guish the distant and faint voices of the pack at 
bay upon our right. The sound was unmis¬ 
takable, although the dogs were evidently so 
weary that they only barked at intervals. 
However faint, the bay was positive, and the 
sound acted upon our spirits like oil on a dying 
flame. Away we went across the patina, utterly 
regardless of the deep holes and bogs. Bran and 
Lucifer, shooting ahead, piloted us at a tremendous 
pace towards the wished - for spot. Suddenly 
away went my horse Jack, right upon his head in 
