With the Beagles.

Otago Witness, Issue 2396, 1 February 1900, Page 66

With the Beagles.

How Faemee Hasel Enjoyed His Ru:\ t ,

Says old Farmer Hasel, "I allus keeps a hare or two for the hounds, and now I get a 'vite to breakfast with them Clifton Beagles at Yatton. You had better go, as I 'specks there 'ull be a few about, I reckon, 'cause, you know, we farmers likes a bit o' sport now and agin when we gets the chance. So if you be willin' Ibe reddy, and off we go."

And on Saturday morning last I was willing. Seated in Farmer Hasel's gig, the nagspun us on right merrily until Red Hill was reached.

"Well, I be dashed if there yent summut rang aheat there. Look at her gwyne. My eyes ! Look, 20 mile an hour, and down these steep hills. Why, she's bin an run away. Poor thing, she be dead ; zartin zure, that she be. Lettus pick her up."

A lady cyclist had evidently lost control of her machine, and failing to keep her head had run into the bank with a fearful crash.

When we arrived there was a crumpled piece of humanity instead of that trim and dainty figure that had rushed by us a few seconds before. And the cause of it? A brakeless machine! Poor girl, the next new machine she rided will be fitted with a brake.

"' Nearly a kill to commence with," says Farmer Ha^el. " Now she's in good hands, we had better be gcttin' on sharp, or else we shall be late for breakfast."

Arrived at Yatton. 1 found some 300 Gloucestershire and Somersetshire farmers sitting clown to breakfast: and didn't they stow it away ! Twenty and more miles' drive in the morning air was enough to create an appetite without the prospect of a 10-mile walk, or rather run, after those miniature hounds.

I noticed that not many of those present took either tea or coffee or old English beer, but much preferred bottled stuff, generous and spiritual ; and it was quite amusing to see- how it lifted the heavy burden 'of agricultural depression, and aroused their loyal enthusiasm when the toast of the Queen was given. " God save the Queen," from 300 lusty country throats certainly createel a medley of sound of great volume, if not so harmoniously balanced as it might have been.

Then came a tremendous statement — the hounds were either getting too fast (evidently the pack is desirous of keeping up to date), or else its hunting followers have been over the rich pastures so often that they have begun to carry weight instead of being able to have weight-carriers to carry them. They have to carry the weight themselves — a very sensible enactment in beagling law ; and, therefore, when a good 45-yeav-old sportsman, after such a hunt breakfast as we partook of on Saturday, essays to keep pace with a pack of hard-conditioned hounds, he must naturally expect to be left behind, especially if he be a bit wheezy ox asthmatical.

But none of them were short of breath when they started singing " Soldiers of the Queen," or when that Shiner chap made them holloa a " Three Times Three " for that jolly little chairman who said that he had never shot a •sitting hare in all his life! And then we turned out.

"What a bootifid lot of dogs!" says one,

"What, sir?' v eayr an irate old veteran. "3&S88 a re n Pt 4egs, sir J These are Hojjnds,

sir! with a capital H, sir! Calling Hounds dogs, indeed ! Well, sport is truly degenerating."

The hounds had to go over a brook, or rhcen, and you either had to walk a rotten, plank or jump. In either event, it was probable you would finish up with clamp feet, muddy stockings, and uefc breeches; but not a hare did we see.

"Tarnation, man! Can't ye lend I a hand? Bank broke away, wet drough as a dro-nnded rat, and dree mile from everywhere ! I zaid I wouldn't a cum no more last year. Talk about living in such a country as this ! A fellow would want wing-*!" " Can't ye swim out, old boy?'' " What !— wi' both feet stuck in the mud, and netting deeper every minute? What be laughing at? Why don't ye pull? Better go and get a cart mare." "Think we strong enough?" " Why don't ye lend us a hand?" A long pull, a strong pull, ond a pull together landed our friend on terra firma. Ths hounds were getting farther away from home every minute, and s>o. like a good general, 1 did not like to wander away from my base of communication, especially as 1 had not seen okl Farmer Hasel since the morning. Back again I made my -uay, and there, in the hotel bar, was Fai-mer Hasel and a numerous " company " of friends ; and that's the way they had been hunting all the afternoon.

. Right ye be, me lad," said he. "We must be a getting back, 'cause I ain't got no lights, and we must all light up." Now, off! "Right ye be. Mind the nag's mouth, tit tender, and she'll shy even at a ~ perambulator. I be going to have a bit o' a nap. Ye know the way home. Mind and keep out of the ditch." And I did. But, Eh ! Jaege !