ead, pricked his ears, and said, "There are the hounds!" and
cantered off, followed by the rest of us, to the upper part of the
field, where we could look over the hedge and see several fields beyond.
My mother and an old riding horse of our master's were also standing
near, and seemed to know all about it. "They have found a hare," said my
mother, "and if they come this way we shall see the hunt."

And soon the dogs were all tearing down the field of young wheat next to
ours. I never heard such a noise as they made. They did not bark, nor
howl, nor whine, but kept on a "yo! yo, o, o! yo, o, o!" at the top of
their voices. After them came a number of men on horseback, all
galloping as fast as they could. The old horses snorted and looked
eagerly after them, and we young colts wanted to be galloping with them,
but they were soon away into the fields lower down; here it seemed as if
they had come to a stand; the dogs left off barking and ran about every
way with their noses to the ground.

"They have lost the scent," said the old horse; "perhaps the hare will
get off."

"What hare?" I said.

"Oh, I don't know what hare; likely enough it may be one of our own
hares out of the woods; any hare they can find will do for the dogs and
men to run after"; and before long the dogs began their "yo; yo, o, o!"
again, and back they came all together at full speed, making straight
for our meadow at the part where the high bank and hedge overhang the
brook.

"Now we shall see the hare," said my mother; and just then a hare, wild
with fright, rushed by and made for the woods. On came the dogs; they
burst over the bank, leaped the stream and came dashing across the
field, followed by the huntsmen. Several men leaped their horses clean
over, close upon the dogs. The hare tried to get through the fence; it
was too thick, and she turned sharp around to make for the road, but it
was too late; the dogs were upon her with their wild cries; we heard
one shriek, and that was the end of her. One of the huntsmen rode up and
whipped off the dogs, who would soon have torn her to pieces. He held
her up by the leg, torn and bleeding, and all the gentlemen seemed well
pleased.

[Illustration]

As for me, I was so astonished that I did not at first see what was
going on by the brook; but when I did look, there was a sad sight; two
fine horses were down; one was struggling in the stream, and the other
was groaning on the grass. One of the riders