Morning journal and courier., 1884-09-05

admire this spot, though for totally different reasons but the hunter likes it not, for he knows too well that if he runs the fox or the otter here, his sport IS over. A fox or an otter if run here is likely to stay; he has ex- perienced the dangers and wickedness of the world at large; but if found here in his qui- ct and repose, he takes alarm at the unusual turmoil and incontinently bolts The otter is known to have way in underwater, where no terrier can go, and he is so far safer than the fox The most arduous otter-hunters, therefore when the hounds mark, plunge up to their neeks in the water to frighten him out with their otter-poles. He has long known the Dart as a quiet, peaceable, happy hunting ground; and he mefes the fatal mis- take of bolting, little reckoning what har- rying awaits him for the next four hours. There immediately arises a yell of 'fHoo-
 gaze!" the view halloo, or tally ho! of the ! otter-hunter; and the din of the hounds and ] terriers, the human scream, and the horn, I like Bedlam broken loose, which he hears be- | hind him, makes him hurry up stream as best he may.
 1 The master of the hounds, if he knows | his business, will now call for silence, and \ taking out his watch, will give the otter what he calls a quarter of an hours law. It is \ wonderful how fond sportsmen are of law;
 ! perhaps there is an affinity between prosecu-
 | ting case and pursuing chase. He wants
 | the otter to go well away from his parlor, and his object for the rest of the day will be | to keep h1m out or IL. IT ne IS a real gOOQ
 | sporting otter-hunter, he will tell his field
 | that he wants his hounds to kill the otter \ without assistance from them; for in the
 west of England the vice of mobbing the ot-
 | ter is too common, with half the field in the
 | water, hooting, yelling, poking with otter ! poles, mixing the wrong scent tthe1r ownl
 with the right, making the water muddy and
 ! turning the river into brawling brook with a vengeance. The true otter-hunter
 only wants his huntsme1 and whip, and per
 haps very knowing and trustworthy friend,
 1 besides himself, to help him in hunting the
 ! otter with his hounds, and not with men. t The master gives the chase good quarter of
 1 an hour by the clock; and, leaving the un- ' earthly, or perhaps too earthly, sounds be- f hind him, the otter makes up stream as fast as he can go. It is surprising how far an ot- 1 ter can get in the time, but fear lends speed \ to his feet. Then begins the prettiest part I of the sport. The hounds are laid on, they \ dash into the river and instantly open in full | cry. The water teens with the scent of the ! otter; but the deep pools, rapid stikles, and ! rocky boulders over which the river foams ! hinder the pace. There is ample time to ad- | mire the spirit-stirring and beautiful scene. | The whole pack swimming a black-looking | pool under 8 beetling Tor in full chorus; now and then an encouraging note on the horn; the echoes of the deep valley; the foaming and roaring Dart flowing down from ! above; the rich color from the fern, the gorse, the heather, the moss and the wild flowers; few scattered weather-be ten oaks and fir trees, and the stately Tors aloft strik- ! ing on the eye and ear, make one feel that f otter hunting on Dartmoor is indeed a sport.