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.’ 
