Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

THE BLACK HARE. 87
James approached them with the dead hare, and Densil asked
where he was going to try. He said, just where they were.
Densil asked, had he seen Father Alackworth? and he was in
the act of saying that he was gone over the down, when a shout
from Charles, and a still louder one from James, made them all
start. A large black hare had burst from the thorns at Charles's
feet, and was bowling down the glen straight towards them, with
the dogs close behind her.
" The witch!" shouted James; "the witch! we shall know
who she is now."
It seemed very likely indeed. Densil broke away from William,
and, spurring his pony down the sheep-path at the risk of his
neck, made for the entrance of the wood. The hare, one of such
dark color that she looked almost black, scudded along in a parallel direction, and dashed into the grass ride just in front of
Densil. They saw her flying down it, just under the dogs'
noses, and then they saw her dash into a cross ride, one of the
dogs making a strike at her as she did so; then hare and greyhounds disappeared round the corner.
" She's dead, sir, confound her! We shall have her now, the
witch! "
They all came round the corner pell-mell. Here stood the
dogs, panting and looking foolishly about them, while in front of
them, a few yards distant, stood Father Mackworth, looking disturbed and flushed, as though he had been running.
Old James stared aghast; William gave a long whistle; nMary,
for a moment, was actually terrified; Densil looked puzzled,
Charles amused; while Father Tiernay made the forest ring with
peal after peal of uproarious laughter.
" I am afraid I have spoiled sport, Mr. Ravenshoe," said 5Mackworth, coming forward. " The hare ran almost against my legs,
and doubled into the copse, puzzling the dogs. They seemed
almost inclined to revenge themselves on me for a moment."
" Ha, ha! " cried the jolly priest, not noticing, as Charles did,
how confused the priest was. " So we've caught you sneaking
home from your appointment with your dear friend."
"What do you mean, sir, by appointment? You are overstepping the bounds of decorum, sir. MIr. Ravenshoe, I beg you to
forgive me for inadvertently spoiling your sport."
" Not at all, my dear Father," said Densil, thinking it best,
from the scared look of old James, to enter into no further explanations; " we have killed one hare, and now I think it is time to
come home to lunch."
" Don't eat it all before I come; I must run up to the Tor; I
have dropped my whip there," said Charles. " James, ride my
horse home; you look tired. I shall be there on foot in half the
time."