let the hares start off together, scattering their bits of paper as they go, to be followed ten or fifteen minutes later by the hounds, who are led by the paper on the tracks of the hares.
The object of the hares is so to scatter the paper in their cross-country run as to lead the hounds on
A False Scent.
This is sometimes done by the hares making a detour into a field, doubling back on their tracks and running in quite another direction. Or they may provide a number of false scents leading from one point.
To be sure all this uses up much precious time, but the compensation lies in mystifying and delaying the hounds, each of whom must decide for herself which trail is the most likely to prove the one the hares have really taken.
When
The Hares Are Off
and the fifteen minutes up, the hounds must start in pursuit. Their object is to head off and catch the hares before they can cover the given distance and again reach the place of meeting. A hound must not only come in sight of a hare but must touch her in order to make a catch. Each player in the paper chase acts for herself, and if she succeeds in catching a hare she wins the honors. And a hare reaching home without being caught wins great honor. The hares keep together, but the hounds may scatter at will, though no girl should risk going too far alone.
From time to time the hares must give their cry Kee-ooi! Kee-ooi! that the hounds may not go too far astray, and the hounds reply with their La-ha-hoo! to let the hares know they are on their tracks.