Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-01-16
IN A HOUNDS TRAIL.
An Exciting Chase Over Fields and Fences
In Search of Game.


In Search of Game.
There! They are coming! In the
quietest and most unconcerned manner
possible the huntsmen "take" the high
wall OF the church Enclosure and are In
the very midst OF us, fox, hounds and
all. or course We all start and Jog
alongside the dogs, as being the most
interesting feature OF the show. l
notice that the whipper-in speaks in
low, caressing voice to the hounds,
keeping the long, braided whiplash well
in their view, however. There are
about a score Of dogs in the pack, and
l notice with particular interest one
elderly canine, SCARED and battered
veteran, who looks as IL bis dog days
had been long in the land. In some UNI
explained manner the hunt proper
manage to extricate themselves from
among the wheels OF their admirers.
See! They are of In that neighboring
field; the rustics Chamber over ditch and
wall in their eagerness to behold tho
start, the rest Of us following pell-mell
on the dusty roadway, driving in that
reckless and excited way peculiar to
the hunt, and indeed, to races In gen.
eral.
The mad spirit Of the principal con-
testants seems, on such occasion, 10 en-
ter into the spectators likewise, and we
all press forward and hurry past one
another, as il we were really not going
anywhere, or not doing any thing in
particular. Tho excitement on many
faces is amusing to behold. One elderly
country dame looks so animated, 80
thrilled by this scratch race" and yet
is so anxious for her own safety and that
OF her best carriage wheels, that the
mixture OF emotions visible on her
kind, matronly face is quite funny to be-
hold. my ducats, my daughter! Isn't
this glorious! But, oh. my poor neck,
and my best rockawayr' she seems to
say.
This part OF the country vanishes as
we te If down the neighboring lane be-
meath grand arch OF lofty elms, the
equestrians Gathering in advance OF us,
some ofthem with moist and very red
faces. That young fellow in the bril-
liant striped blazer has lost his hat, and
pays the penalty Of being too conspicu
Gus, as do the whippers-in, who are
Obliged TO follow meekly with the car
riages, their horses legs having received
ugly cuts in jumping the fences. With
their scarlet coats they look like cap
tive British soldiers.
Whenever we catch glimpse of the
hunt in the neighboring fields, all is ex-
citement-so people even leave their
vehicles and mount on gate posts In or
der to command better view. All!
that horse refuses the jump--it is no
use, my friend, to ride him up to the
wall again; lone man can lead a
horse" ETC., this wise Buccphalus
knows the limits Of his legs and their
jumping power. Those young fellows
on the fence shouldn't jeer at the I'M
fortunate horseman-it isn't his fault.
Last OF all the dashing procession
comes a lone hound--no doubt our
friend, the veteran; he follows the
scent as we'll as ever, but he can not
keep pace with his fellows; nay, as the
race draws near its close he can hardly
climb the walls save after several ef-
forts--but he is game and keeps on 70
the end; let us hope that he received
some OF the raw meat, for he surely
deserved It. Cor. Boston Traveller.