The wolf, scared from his covert on Humphrey Head, leads the hunters a long and exciting chase over Kirkhead, past Holker and Newby, and across “the Leven’s brawling flood,” to the Old Man of Coniston. The dogs are again upon the track, and the grisly beast is away through “Easthwaite’s lonely deep,” through woodland, brake, and forest hoar, “through Sawrey’s pass,” and on to the shores of Windermere, where,
With one bold plunge, the mere he takes,
And, favoured by the wind,
The flabbing scent abruptly breaks,
And leaves his foes behind.
But the “tireless bloodhounds” are once more upon the scent, the rival knights follow in hot pursuit, and
Away along the wooded shore
The chase betakes him now,
Beneath the friendly shade of Tower
And craggy Gummerhow.