The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-10-19

SLOWLY, OUT surely, unsh IL appeared almost GER
tain that he must scon gain the shelter of the
tau timber, where the keen eyes Of the alans
impotent Of scent would Be worthless in pur.
suit and where he must again Be dislodged BY
slow hounds, or the chase abandoned.
Just as he was within fifty yards, however, of
the desired covcrrs edge, Sir Philip de Nor
viIle--for he ii was who rode the foremost
raised his bugle to his lips and sounded it long
and shrill, in most peculiar strain; to which
e whoop responded, almost from the point for
which the stag was making, and, ct the same
time, q second brace Of alans-one q Jet black,
and the other deep brindled fawn color
dartcd out and few down the gentle slope,
right ct the head of the yet unwearied quarry
Swinging high into air. he Instantly made q
perfect demi- voltc, with an angry toss of his
antlers, and shot, with redoubled efforts, in the
contrary direction, cutting across the very
noses of hisoriginal pursuers, which, whom they
had turned likewise, were brought within fifty
yards of his launches, and away like an arrow
toward the bridge across the Idle From this
moment, the excitement of the spectacle was
redoubled; nor could any one, even tho coolest
of spectators, have looked on without feeling
| tho. blood course, like molten Lawn, through his
| veins
1t was no longer stern chase where the
direct speed only of the rival and hostile ami
mails was brought into play; for, as the stag
turned to the left about, the black and brin-
| died aians, which had been started at his head,
were thrown by his movement some thirty
yards wide On his right quarter; while the
white dogs, who had pursued him 30 eavagely
from the beginning, were brought to position
| nesrly equidistant on his left flank.
Hencefortb, it was course Of fleet bounds,
short turns, and maneuvres of wonderful sgil-
ity; and at this instant new spectator, or
spectatress, rather, was added 70 the scene.
This was young girl Of some sixteen or
seventeen years. at the utmost, beautifully
formed, and full of easy grace AID symmetry,
who came galloping down the road, from the
direction of the castle, as fast as the flying
bounds of beautiful red roam Arab-with
mane and tail of silver, scarcely larger or less
fleet than the deer in the plain below-could
carry her.
Her face and features were not less beautiful
than her form the latter would have been
perfectly Grccian and classical. but for the
sGghtest possible upward turn in the delicate,
thin nose, which impaired an arch, halfsaucy
meaning to her rich, laughing face Her eyes
were clear, bright blue, with long, dark lashes,
q prre complexion, ripe, crimson lips; and a
flood Of dark auburn tressos which had es-
capped from the confinement Of her crimson rel
vet bonnet, and flowed on the light breeze in a
flood Of glittering ringlets, completed her at
fractions.
Her garb was the rich attire peculiar 10 her
age, her rank, and the period of which we
write the most picturesque, perhaps, and
appropriate to set off the perfecsions of fe-
malo figure Of rare symmetry, that ever has
been invented. A closely fitting jacket, follow
ing every curve and eiuuous line of her beaute-
GUS shape, of rich green velvet furred deeply
at the cape and cuffs with white swansdown,
and bordered at the hips by broad band of
the Same pure garniture; loose flowing skirts,
of heavy sendal of the same hue, crimson vel
vet shoulder-belt supporting richly-embroi-
de-ed hawking pouch, a floating plane of white
ostrich feathers, and a crimson-hooded merlin
on her wrist, with golden bells and jesses, COM
pletod her person's adornment; and combined,
with the superb housings and velvet headstall
of her exquisite palfrey, to form charming
picture.
So rapidly did she ride, that single page, q
boy Of ton or twelve years, who followed her,
squirting with all his might, could scarcely
keep her in sight, and as she galloped down
toward the bridge, which she had almost
reached was lost to view in the valley immed-
stcly behind the ridge, the southern slope Of
which she was descending.
The stag, by this time, which had been aim
ing hitherto to Cross the road on which she
was gallopipg, had been turned several times,
by the fresh relay of alans which wero untred
and unimpaired of speed; and had been thus
edged gradually away from the road and
bridge, toward the white dogs, which wero
now running, as it is technically termed, cum
ming, laying up straight ahead, on parallel
line, and almost abreast, with the deer. Now
| they drew forward, shot ahead, and passed him.
At once, seeing his peril, he wheeled en- his
baupcboa cd nth SsoDo~oko lat cfrnrk
headed once more for the road, striving for
life! for life! to cut across the right-ha
| couple of deer grayhounds; but, feet as he
was, heeter now did they show themselves, and
once more be was forced to turn, only to fnd
the white dogs directly in bis path.
One, the taller and swifter of the two, was
few yards in advance of the other, and, as the
ssag turned full into his foaming jaws, spraug
as its throat with wild yell. But the deer
bounded, too, and bounded higher than the
| dog, and, as they met in mid air, its keen,
| sharp pointed hooss struck the brave staghound
| in the chest, and hurled him to tho ground,
stunned, if not lifele.s. Four strides more, and
| he swept like o swallow over narrow reach
of the little river and then, having once moro
brought the three surviving hounds directly
aeterr, turned to the westward along the river
ehorc, and cantering away lightly, no longer
| 90 hard pressed, seemed likely TO make his es-
cape toward broad belt of forest, which lay
| some mile and half that way, free from am
busoade or hidden peril.
| Al this turn of the chase, fercer was the
excitement, and wilder waxed the shouting and
the bugle blasts of the discounted followers of
the chase, none of whom were nearer TO tho
bridge than full half mile. But 80 animated
was the beautiful young lady whose face had
| flushed crimson, and then turned ashy pale,
with the Sudden excitement Of that bold exploit
Of dog and deer, that she cispped her hands
| joyously together, unhoodiDg and casting loose
her merlin, though without intention, in the
act, and crying, gaily, +" Well run, brave Her.
cules well leapt, brave Hart o. Grace" and,
as che saw the hunters scattered over the wide
field, none so near to the sport as she, she flung
her arm aloft, and with her pretty girlish voice
set up musical whoop of defiance.
Now, at the very moment when the deer's
1 escape seemed almost more than certain--as
often is the case in human affairs, no less than
| oervine--"a new foe in the field y changed the
whole aspect of the case. The great brindled
gray deerhound, which had lain thus far peace
| ful by Kenric's side, seeing what had passed,
sprang out of the fern, unbidden, swan across
the Idle in Q dezsn strokes, aud once more
headed the hunted deer.
The young girl was now within six horses
length of the bridge, when the deer, closely
pursued by its original assailants, and finding
itself now intercepted by Kenric's dog Kill
buck D in front, turned once again in the only
direction now left it and wheeled aoross the
bridge ct full speed, black with sweat, flecked
With white foam flakes, its tongue hanging