and put them upon the scent. As they
were going off, I heard one of the country-fellows muttering to his
companion, that 'twas a wonder they had not lost all their sport, for
want of the silent gentleman's crying STOLE AWAY.

This, with my aversion to leaping hedges, made me withdraw to a rising
ground, from whence I could have the pleasure of the whole chase,
without the fatigue of keeping in with the hounds.

The hare immediately threw them above a mile behind her; but I was
pleased to find, that instead of running straight forwards, or, in
hunter's language, FLYING THE COUNTRY, as I was afraid she might have
done, she wheel'd about, and described a sort of circle round the hill
where I had taken my station, in such manner as gave me a very distinct
view of the sport. I could see her first pass by, and the dogs some time
afterwards unravelling the whole track she had made, and following her
thro' all her doubles. I was at the same time delighted in observing
that deference which the rest of the pack paid to each particular hound,
according to the character he had acquired amongst them: If they were
at a fault, and an old hound of reputation opened but once, he was
immediately followed by the whole cry; while a raw dog, or one who was
a noted LIAR might have yelped his heart out, without being taken notice
of.

The hare now, after having squatted two or three times, and been put up
again as often, came still nearer to the place where she was at first
started. The dogs pursued her, and these were followed by the jolly
Knight, who rode upon a white gelding, encompassed by his tenants
and servants, and chearing his hounds with all the gaiety of five and
twenty. One of the sportsmen rode up to me, and told me that he was sure
the chace was almost at an end, because the old dogs, which had hitherto
lain behind, now headed the pack. The fellow was in the right. Our hare
took a large field just under us, followed by the full cry IN VIEW. I
must confess the brightness of the weather, the chearfulness of every
thing around me, the CHIDING of the hounds, which was returned upon us
in a double echo from two neighbouring hills, with the hollowing of the
sportsmen, and the sounding of the horn, lifted my spirits into a most
lively pleasure, which I freely indulged because I was sure it was
innocent. If I was under any concern it was on the account of the
poor hare, that was now quite spent and almost within the reach of her
ene