round with stout poles, to which nets were attached so as to form a
haye or preserve, where the game intended for the royal sport was
confined; and though many of the animals thus brought together were
of hostile natures, they were all so terrified, and seemingly so
conscious of the danger impending over them, that they did not molest
each other. The foxes and martins, of which there were abundance,
slunk into the brushwood with the hares and rabbits, but left their prey
untouched. The harts made violent efforts to break forth, and,
entangling their horns in the nets, were with difficulty extricated and
driven back; while the timid does, not daring to follow them, stood
warily watching the result of the struggle.

Amongst the antlered captives was a fine buck, which, having been
once before hunted by the king, was styled a "hart royal," and this
noble animal would certainly have effected his escape if he had not
been attacked and driven back by Morgan Fenwolf, who throughout the
morning's proceedings displayed great energy and skill. The
compliments bestowed on Fenwolf for his address by the chief verderer
excited the jealousy of some of his comrades, and more than one
asserted that he had been assisted in his task by some evil being, and
that Bawsey herself was no better than a familiar spirit in the form of a
hound.

Morgan Fenwolf scouted these remarks; and he was supported by some
others among the keepers, who declared that it required no
supernatural aid to accomplish what he had done--that he was nothing
more than a good huntsman, who could ride fast and boldly--that he
was skilled in all the exercises of the chase, and possessed a stanch
and well-trained hound.