BLOOD-HOUNDS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 1300, 20 April 1881, Page 2

BLOOD-HOUNDS.

Apropos of the death of " old Mountjoy," the pedestrian, a correspondent of a London .sporting newspaper related a story he hoard from Mountjoy's own lips, a story so discreditable to one of the chief actors that it were to bo wished the other laboured nnder a delusion. Hearing Lord W. boast that his bloodhounds would track any living thing, by scent alone, Colonel A. wagered a hundred guineas they would not track a man, and asked Mount joy to win the wager for him, assuring" the startled pedestrian there was no danger of the dogs catching him as they were slow runners, and he would take care sufficient start was allowed him ; the object being to test their power of scent. The trial duly came off over three miles of ground round Hampstoad '-feath. After the dogs had sniffed at Mountjoy's leys, he made hi s way leisurely for half the course, w hen the flag was dropped and the ho llI1( j a H et loose. They tracked their quarry splendidly, but were six hundred yards behind when Mountjoy reachgd the inn at the end of the course, au d shut the door upon them, outside which they howled their dissatisfaction until removed by their keeper. Disbelievers in the bloodhound's scent were still unconvinced, averring that they had sighted the man for part of the journey at least ; and to settle the point beyond dispute, another match was made, to be run at night, the distance | this time being but a mile and a half. Unsuspicious of foul play, Mountjoy went gaily on his way, but had not accomplished more than two-thirds of the distance allowed him by the conditions, when his hair stood on end, as the cry of the dogs, ho( upon his trail, reached his ears. They had been purposely slipped before the proper time, without any warning. "For one second," he said, " 1 stood stock still, as if I had been frozen, and then dashed away and ■ ran as 1 had never done before, and have never done since. I was in perfect training and -condition, but the cold sweat broke out from every pore, and poured down my body, while my legs seemed like lead, and I trembled all over. Still I kept desperately on, whilst nearer and nearer came the deep hoarse bay of the hounds, as the scent grew warmer, and they knew they were running up to their prey. I thought I was lost. Those few seconds were like weeks, and I wondered whether they would grip me first by the leg or fly straight at my throat. Luckily I did not lose my head ; and after the first mad burst I settled down and raced away at a pace which I knew would last Mie distance ; but still closer and closer came the horrible cry, that sounded like my death-kneel ; and, in sheer desperation, I put on all the speed I knew. At last I saw the lights of the lonely little inn, and my heart ro&e within me ; but at that very instant the brutes broke out into a fierce savage yell, that told me that they had sighted me at last. There was a small garden in front of the house, and as I flew up to it I saw the gate was shut. How I did it 1 never, knew ; but, blown and exhausted with terror and the pace as I was, I cleared it, darted through the door, which fortunately stood open, and slamming it to, stood with my back against it. The lock had hardly closed, . when bang ! bang ! against the panels came my terrible pursuers ; and then they lay down and yelled savagely at finding themselves baulked of ther prey. As soon as he felt himself safe, rage took the place of fear ; and seizing hold of a bottle, Mountjoy swore he would brain Lord W. if the entered the place ; a threat he would have fulfilled had not those present got him out of the room in time to prevent a most justifiable homicide.