Sporting scenes and country characters . y stopped. The whole pack ad-vances, and dashes into the very spot at which heentered; the horsemen come up at full speed; somerush down the ridings of the wood; some skirt its mar-gin on one side,—some on the other. They are lost fromthe sight. Another loud cry is raised: he has brokenaway on the farther side. The cry, intermingled withthe sound of the horn, becomes fainter and fainter, andis only heard at intervals. Reynard, pressed by hismany determined pursuers, has fled his country. Away go the hounds at a tremendous rate: a crowdof eager horsemen
Sporting scenes and country characters . y stopped. The whole pack ad-vances, and dashes into the very spot at which heentered; the horsemen come up at full speed; somerush down the ridings of the wood; some skirt its mar-gin on one side,—some on the other. They are lost fromthe sight. Another loud cry is raised: he has brokenaway on the farther side. The cry, intermingled withthe sound of the horn, becomes fainter and fainter, andis only heard at intervals. Reynard, pressed by hismany determined pursuers, has fled his country. Away go the hounds at a tremendous rate: a crowdof eager horsemen follow. Now must be brought intofull play the skill of the rider, and the stoutness of thehunter; for the resolute old fox will lead his deter-mined pursuers over every variety of comitry. He triesto swamp them in the low and marshy grounds,—to FOX HUNTING. 25 puzzle them in the intricacies of the woods,—on thecross roads,—in hovels,—in fann-yards,—or by many otherdevices which the cunning and craft of his instinct Hold hard, there! says a genuine veteran to ayoung, rash, and inexperienced rider; there s a rasperbefore you, with a deep ditch on the other side, anda fallow beyond; mind what you re about! His horse 26 FOX HUNTING. takes the fence; falls on the opposite bank; and theyoung rider is pitched into the mud and water. Theold hand, knowing the country well, draws a little to theright or to the left; and, cautious and unerring on alloccasions, gets clear over all, and is soon near the headof the whole field. Another follows over the same dis-astrous spot. Rider and horse are rolling in the , both are of the right sort. The former stillholds fast by the reins; his horse has risen, and is drag-ging him over the field; the beautiful scarlet is changedto the sober russet; the horse stops at the next hedge ;the rider regains his feet—springs upon his back—and,after all, has not lost much ground. Next comes a fret-ful horse; he shie
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectf, booksubjecthunting
