Page:Xenophon by Alexander Grant.djvu/177

Rh and the eyes continue unmoved; also, while asleep, she moves her nostrils frequently, but when not asleep, less often." The huntsman, sallying forth in a light loose dress, with light sandals on, and a thick staff in his hand, when he gets to the hunting-ground, vows to Apollo and to Diana the huntress a share of what may be captured; he then sets his dogs to draw for the scent, which we will suppose to be quickly discovered. "Off go the dogs now with joy and spirit, discovering two or three scents as the case may be, proceeding along and over them as they intersect, form circles, run straight or winding, are strong or weak, are caught up or not; the animals passing by one another, waving their tails about incessantly, hanging down their ears, and flashing their eyes. When they are near the hare, they soon let the huntsman know it, by vibrating their whole bodies, and jealously vying for the lead, now clustering together, now spreading abroad, again dashing on, till at last they hit upon the hare's form and rush in upon her. Up she springs, and away she starts, and the huntsman gives the view-hallo, 'Forward, dogs, forward! right, dogs, right!' and wrapping his coat round his arm, he takes his staff and runs after the dogs, taking care not to head the chase." The hare, running in a ring, is expected to come round to where the nets are set, and so get caught. If not, the hunt must be pursued, as with beagles in modem times; and all the incidents of the day are described in the most lively manner by Xenophon, with instructions for the tactics to be pursued, and the proper cries and modulations of