pace is wretched," when horses are going beyond comparison faster than in the "fast thing" to which I have alluded. These different observations and opinions arise from two causes-the annexing the idea of whirlwind speed to a runner or runners for a Derby in one case, and a want of something to compare with in the other: it is much the same with packs of hounds.

I have been often amused, as doubtless thousands of others have, by seeing men on a race-course back a particular horse because his style of going in his canter pleased them; and as one among these horses must win, the man who betted on him is sure to say after the race, he was certain the horse would win from his manner of going. I quite believe that take them all in all there are more fast race-horses who go like fast ones, than who go otherwise; but to attempt to judge whether a horse can race from his canter is a most fallacious criterion indeed to go upon; we may much oftener be right in judging of the lasting of a hunter across a country by his style of galloping; but we cannot to an absolute certainty decide even here, for stamina has to be considered; but we chiefly want the speed of the race-horse for a hundred yards, and with this momentary exertion the canter has nothing whatever to do-no man can tell whether a horse can race or not till he tries him.

Whoever can recollect the original stag-hounds, who were as unlike fox-hounds as is the southern beagle to the fast harrier, will agree that to a bystander the thought would suggest itself—" How can these great slow-going animals ever expect to run up to a stag?" those who ever hunted with them will recollect, however, that run up to him they did, and that sometimes very quickly, and unless stopped would have run in to him also. Yet while the whips of the huntsman, and a yeoman pricker or two were dropped before the pack, and the horns were playing, the scene to a fox-hunter was odd enough. Perhaps ten couple of the young, or fast, or sound hounds, were standing opening in full chorus, looking impatiently for a whip to be raised, as many of the slow ones and cripples were to be seen in ones, or twos, or threes, coming along on their old stilts, just as I have seen old Borabec start on his, when “God save the neck of the jockey!" was the charitable ejaculation of the bystander; you could hear these poor old veterans giving every now and then a whimper, or a single occasional lengthened "yow" as they came along. Probably by the time the tail hound had got up, the whips were raised, and away they rushed; some of the old ones had by this time warmed to their work, and thus adding to the vanguard; the tailing was not quite so much, and it somewhat diminished every time the pack was stopped; but still it was always pretty considerable, and as it was the same with some of the men, there was this convenience in it-each man might select a couple of hounds and ride with them, so all were accommodated, as each man had his pack. I in no shape mean to say that in those days these stag-hounds were slow; quite the contrary, they went a great pace-that is, the body of the pack did; and General Vyse, who was sure to be with the leading ones of these, will tell any one, that on as good and fine horses as ever man rode, and riding them as well, he found, though a light weight, he had not (riding as he did) two or three stone to spare. The fact was that though seeming to go slow, the stride of these large hounds was very great, and they kept going, and in that case, as I before said, almost all hounds will be found fast enough

But while I say a burst with stag-hounds is fast, I am quite aware, that taking the hunt altogether it was slow, for I have seen farmers and others on very slow horses, and such in anything but hunting condition, that have been at the turning out and taking of the deer; and so might any man on a slow horse if he was a sticker, for if he was content to keep with tail hounds, and thus come up occasionally, he might last to the finish; but thus mounted, starting with the hounds when the deer was uncarted, and laying with them till they were stopped. was quite out of the question.

Nor was the appearance of going slowly confined to the hounds only: the same apparent want of speed was shown in the stag; when striding evenly along, nothing but following him would convince a spectator he goes the pace he does. We feel we are going fast in a railway carriage, but meet another, we then see the velocity of the machine; or if we see one going, it seems to go fast doubtless, but turn our sight from it for ten seconds, the distance between us in that short space of time brings the velocity again at once to our senses: it is somewhat thus with the stag, it is not easy to frighten him from his "propriety," for whether the hounds are five fields in his rear or nearly on his haunches, though in the latter case he will increase his pace, he does it as smoothly and soberly as the steam-engine when higher pressure is put on, or the race-horse in going his sweat, when the heels or ash plant rouse him to a lengthened stride. If hounds come suddenly on a hunted fox, he lays his ears in his poll and sets to work in earnest, we see he is going fast; still more so with the hare, for running "like a frightened hare" is proverbial; a hint puts her to her topmost speed instantly; and though we see the greyhound is the swifter animal as he runs up to and turns her, still to our vision the hare appears to go the fastest, for with all fast animals the smaller the animal is, the faster in proportion he appears to be, when his speed is nearly equal with the larger one. With the stag there is on no occasion, at least not on any one I have seen, any appearance of perturbation or hurry he has either not the inclination or not the powers of the same increased exertion as the fox or hare; at all events I never saw one evince it. I do not believe he possesses the power of striking very quickly in his gallop: I may naturally suppose a pack of hounds would alarm him as much as anything earthly could do; I have seen scores with a whole pack at their heels (I mean when hunting), but I never saw one put himself out like a run-away horse. I conceive it to be more their great endurance at a certain pace, than any great speed, that keeps them before hounds so long.

Formerly, I mean two centuries ago and before that period, I believe the outlying or wild stag was the one hunted; how they went comparatively with those fed on hay, oats, carrots, and beans, I know not; and if we had any authentic accounts of the runs in those days, we could come to no conclusions as to their comparative powers, for neither the hounds or horses that followed them were such as are in use in modern times. There is one thing that certainly must tell very considerably against the stags kept in paddocks, namely, the want of exercise, that is strong exercise: if we could give him a gallop every day, I suppose in return when we hunted him he would give us a "burster;" to what extent improved feeding makes amends for this I know not.

Baron Rothschild's stag-hounds I have never seen: if money can make them good they ought to be so, and from what I have heard they are So. We must in candour allow that such men as go well with them in their country can be no bad workmen in any other, for the Vale of Aylesbury is no joke to get over. At all events the baron's hounds are a great convenience to his numerous friends and acquaintance, many of whom have important avocations that do not permit their hunting as often as, I dare say, they would wish; as they hunt as often as they can, I only sincerely wish them good sport whenever they meet the baron and his justly celebrated pack,

There is one accusation brought by foxhunting men against staghounds that has certainly its foundation in truth: more injury is done to a farmer in breaking down his fences, riding over turnips, clover leys, &c., in one day with stag-hounds, than in a month with a regular pack of fox-hounds. This will ever be the case the certainty of a run brings out enormous fields-those composed of numbers who are unknown in the country; nor do they possess an acre of land in that or any other consequently, both from ignorance, carelessness, and fearlessness of recognition, they ride anywhere-many anywhere but where they ought. The railroads have increased this evil most wonderfully; and I can only say, if I was master of a pack of fox-hounds, I should anathematise railways till each separate length of iron would rise up in indignation against me: if they did, I should pray they might never get into their places again. I mean nothing illiberal in this. If I knew a man came from Sweeting's Alley or Bride Lane-if I knew also that he was in heart and feelings a sportsman-he would be welcome; but for the rest, I would endeavour to keep my "fixtures" as great a secret from them as they keep those of their 'Change from me, and I think my change would be for the better.

H. H.

66

THE APPROACHING FOOTSTEP.*

ENGRAVED BY J. WESTLEY, FROM A PAINTING BY WILLIAMS.

SCENE THE SANCTUM.

Dramatis Persona: Editor, and a Country Correspondent.

Editor: Round goes the wheel, and here it stops again at T for Trigger once more! And the Mag, like a wide-awake Leg put up to the play, has her stake ready laid on the colour wanted.

Country Correspondent: Ah! I see, with "The Approaching Footstep"-what does it mean?

E. Stop a bit, sir. Question for question, if you please; and we'll lead off with "the old un,' as they say in the racing stables.

the birds promise this year?

C. C. Well, that's rather a long range; and so

How do

E. The much more easily answered: there is nothing so nice to stand to as the indefinite. If you were here to represent Essex, or