fastened to a staff shod with
iron; while the whipper-in had a red flag. The hare had as large a bag
as he could carry of white paper, torn into very small pieces.
Frequently, too, the hounds dressed in blue or red caps and jackets,
which gave the field a very animated appearance; far better in one
respect than a real hunt with harriers, because we were certain that the
hare was enjoying the fun as much as the hunters, and whether he was
caught or escaped, would sit down afterwards to a capital dinner or tea
with them, and "fight his battles o'er again."

The morning for the hunt arrived. It broke, bright and beautiful! with
just enough frost in the air to give it freshness and briskness.

The boys were up soon after daybreak, and had breakfast at once, that
they might be ready to start at an early hour, and have the whole day
before them. They assembled, just outside the school-grounds, in a
small wood, which would conceal the hare from them, when he broke cover,
and enable him to get a good start.

The hunt was to be longer than any that had ever been run, and as there
was every probability that all the scent would be expended, it was
arranged that Buttar should accompany Ernest to carry an additional bag
of paper.

The huntsman sounded his horn cheerily, and all the hounds came pouring
into the woodland glade, accompanied by the Doctor, who seemed as eager
as any one to see the sport.

"Now, Buttar, are you all ready?" said Ernest, as they buckled up their
waist-belts, and grasped their leaping-poles. "Too--too--too," went the
huntsman's horn.

"Off hare, off hare," cried the Doctor. "Ten minutes law will give you
a fine start; you'll make play with it--away, away!" He clapped his
hands. Off flew Ernest and Buttar, fleet as greyhounds, and very unlike
the timid hares they pretended to represent.

The Doctor held his watch in his hand. The hounds meantime were getting
ready to start; one pressing before the other, taking a last look at
shoe-strings, tightening in their belts, rubbing their hands, in their
eagerness to rush out of the wood and commence the pursuit. They kept
looking up at the Doctor's countenance, to endeavour to ascertain by the
expression it wore whether time was nearly up. Those who had watches
were continually pulling them out for the same object. At last the
Doctor was seen to put his into his pocket. Lemon gave a cheerful sound
with his horn.

"Away, lads, away!" cried the D