The Red Cloud chief., 1881-05-19
q W IT,
A RIN FOE LIFE.

RJN FOE LIFE.
In nv vourrer DAYS ] was an cnthu-
sia-tic eatomOlCyi>t, and n summer
vacation | was delighted 10 receive an
invitation from a bachelor cousin, Fred
Vernon, 10 spend , week or two
with him in = distant cOanty.
Fred was agent TO Squire A.thorpe, who
owned pretty nearly the whole OF the
parish in which he lived: and - the
Squire spent a good part of his time
away from home, ] knew I should be.
able 10 roam about the place YER much
- l liked, and should therefore have
ample opportunities OF adding 20 my
collection of butterflies and other IN
sc Is. Fred and / had been at school
together, and were much more intimate
than is usually the case with relations;
Int we had somehow lost sight OF each
oher since, and or ny part | was very
Cad ~ an opportunity OF renewing the
ia friendship.
At the time Of my visit TO Blankshire
ne Squire was away on the continent;
md on the morning after my arrival
lred, having some leisure time II his
disposal. proposed that we should take
A ramb,e round the park, and finish up
by visiting the Squire kennels The
park was a magnificent place, fully SIX
hundred acres in extent, and well wood
ed. Grand Old oaks, graceful lines
and handsome chestnuts were dotted
here and there with picturesque irregu-
larity: while OF each side OF the Hall
were clUmps OF the finest elni-trees /
had ever seen. on which, for ages past,
vast numbers OF rocks had built their
nests. A certain portion Of the parH
itself. about = third OF the whole eX-
tent. was surrounded with high iron
ratings. put down To keep in the
deer. OF which there were about one
hundred. Within the PARK was a
small lake, about twenty acres IN eX-
tent. teemlnr with fish, surrounded on
AL sides by giant trees, and fringed
with beds OF waving reed; while
further ont into the water were
patches OF lilies, yellow and white,
whose blossoms tloated placidiy on the
unruf'ed surface.
On the other side ofthe par6. stretch
inc FAR away inland. was an extensive
heath. genjly undu!at!ug. and covered
here and there with patches OF gorse
and rough graSs. which afforded covert
for numerous cartridges and hares and
rabbits. Altogether. the estate was 4
perfect sportsman's paradise; while for
the naturalist il offered unusual attrac-
tons. - being the home OF many diff
feyent kinds of plants and flowers, and
supplying food and shelter to insects OF
ever kind.
~ for the dogs | saw al the knnnel,
I have never forgotten hcal. Zach
breed had Is " special department.
AMI an assistant TO see after il. Much
- the spaniels and settlers Interested
me-for / was a-hit OF q sportsman rs
woIl rs 4 naturalist i must confess
that a pack OF splendid bl~oodhounds
strUcG me most of AL. Their wise.
accommodating faces, with their grace
fully peuduious ears. rs fine and a. soft
Is s.lA. were indeed = study. This pack.
j was told, was not only celebrated for
it, appearance. but also for lis work.
They were trained Ia follow I trail. of
bycd a. wei ~ CUadruped, with the
most undertaking certainty; and their
presence in the S4uirc's kennels did
more 10 check poachinC than an army
OF ~Camekeepers. Whle we were ad-
m:ring the hounds. the kennelnan told
Us several tales in illustration of this
fact.
A few morning after our visit to the
kennc,s Fred told nae, as we sal at
breakfast. that be had some estate busi-
ness 20 trarSlc AZ a town some miles
OF. which would require him 10 be
from home nearly the whole day. |
could come with him. he said, if |
chose: but once Al the town, he must
leave me I my own devices; and he
opincd that | should find il rather dull.
With thanks for his offer. l assured
him that | would much prefer an ento-
molo2ical expedition by myself on the
heath TO hanging about the town; but
at the same time l suggested that, II
nv services would render him any help.
i would gladly sacrifice my own COM
fort To his. With 4 laugh, he said that
i would only be in the way If i came
with him: and we settled the matter
there and then
After breakfast. Fred's horse was
brought round TO the door: and. with
parting injunctions TO me TO go where /
liked, he rode of.
Shortly after his departure, armed
with nv bUtterfiy-net, and with 4 good
" store of collecting boxes for the re-
ceptlon OF my spoils, l. too, started for
a iong and solitary ramble across the
heath. | had been gone, / suppose,
rather more than q couple OF
hours, and had been wandering
about here and there in an ap-
parentlv ajmless fashion in pursuit
of specimens. visiting two or three old
pits. and the various hollowS IN the
heath as l came TO them, when. on
mounting some rising ground, the deep
notes IF i bloodhound Were borne
family 10 me By the gentle breeze that
was blowing from the direction of the
kenrels. AS | listened. the sound ap-
peared to grow 8 triiie more distinct,
Aithen entirely died away. Think
ING that the pack was out after an es-
cared deer. | did not pay much atten-
fion 10 what | heard. but proceeded on
nv way TO the next bit of high ground.
which. from its elevation. would give
me an opportunity OF observing in the
distance the movements of the dogs.
A brisk walk sufficed TO bring me TO
the top of this spot, and here the deep
mellow voices of the hounds were
heard more distinctly. and, as II
seemed 10 me, sounded much nearer
than on the previous occasion. They
are coming this wsy. l thought to nv
self; and straining my eyes in the di-
rection from which the sounds came, /
tried to distinguish the pack. This
was no easy matter, for the hounds
were of a color no readily visible in
the q stance and on the burnt grass of
the heath. However, l at last sue
ceeded in making them out, and per-
reivea that they were alone. This sur
Gerised me. for Fred had mentioned that
the kennelman always accompanied
them when they were out for exercise,
or when they were being used to drive
hack any deer that had succeeded IN