About 5 p.m. the mess cook came and said he had been unable to get enough food in for the morrow, as the expected hampers from England had not arrived, and the district was so packed with other troops.  So we decided to get some hares or partridges.  But it’s forbidden to shoot game.  Very well, we wouldn’t shoot them.  We’d ride them down.  The country behind is entirely open.  No hedges.  Just gently undulating uplands.  The crops are all cut.  So three of us set out.  The orderly-room work had almost been finished, and the remainder could wait.  Jezebel was brought round for me, Chloe for Roger, and Minotaur for the Colonel.  The Colonel’s orderly, Corporal Orchard, following on Shotover.  We rode back to the more open country where there are few troops, and then started the drive.  Jezebel on the right, Chloe next, Shotover next, and Minotaur on the left, at intervals of 20 yards or so.

It had been decided that, if a hare got up, even while we were after partridges, we must chase the hare.

Well, presently a covey got up, and away we galloped up a long slope.  Suddenly a wild tally-ho from Roger.  A hare had got up and was lepping across Jezebel’s line.  So Jezebel fairly flattened herself out to keep the hare in.  But the hare was across before she could get wide enough.

Then the hare doubled back and we swung round, so that now Minotaur was on the right.  Hooroosh down the hill.  The hare was gaining.  There was a minute brick enclosure a quarter of a mile ahead.  The hare was making for that.  And gained it.  Check.  We surrounded the enclosure and Corporal Orchard dismounted and went in.  After about ten minutes out popped the hare on t’other side.  Loud yells, and after her again.  She made for some high ground where there was a small wood.  “Cut her off,” signalled the Colonel wildly.

Impossible to cut off the hare.  She gained the wood, which we surrounded.  But, oh silly hare! she came out the other side.  Minotaur after her like an arrow.

Then she tried to get away across Jezebel’s front.  But Jezebel was too quick, and Chloe came up in support.

Then the hare doubled again through Shotover and Minotaur, and we swung about.  The hare was getting tired.  She had run about three miles.  She then doubled back again through Chloe and Jezebel.

[Sidenote:  CHASING THE HARE]

But meanwhile the horses were all getting dark with sweat, and although a low line of upland hid us, we knew we were approaching some reserve wire.  The hare must not gain that wire.

She was dead beat and going very slow, flopping along, and looked as if she would tumble head over heels any second.  We were close behind her.

She got into some long grass 20 yards away from the wire, and disappeared from view.  We had got her.  Corporal Orchard dismounted and began beating the grass for her.  There!  Just missed her.  She flopped on a few yards, and Corporal Orchard dashed after.  Then he tripped and fell.  The hare came out of cover and lolloped towards the wire.  Yells from Roger and the Colonel.