76 LETTERS TO YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



of the resistance, just as a man on a bicycle rides down-wind 

 in preference to up. Casting back is usually unsound, 

 because if a fox has gone back the huntsman will get informa- 

 tion of it, as the fox is likely to be viewed by the oncoming 

 field. When a check occurs an observant huntsman usually 

 is able to see the cause of the fox's diversion from the straight 

 line. Something has headed him — a cart, a man, perhaps 

 a motor car. The huntsman then looks for signs of the direc- 

 tion the fox has taken, always first looking down-wind. Sheep 

 have got together and are gazing in the direction in which the 

 fox has gone ; distant crows are diving down towards some- 

 thing ; bullocks gallop after a fox very often, and if they are up 

 in a corner of a field it is not unlikely that the fox has quitted 

 there. If jays and blackbirds are busy in a small covert, the 

 fox is in it or has gone through. Huntsmen make good all 

 ground in a semicircle in front before thinking of casting in any 

 other direction. Casting is done quickly or slowly in accordance 

 with the quality of the scent ; if there is a burning scent the 

 huntsman casts at a hand-gallop with all the hounds in front 

 of him, while with indifferent scent he would cast at a walk, 

 because if scent is poor the pack will take more time puzzling 

 it out. What is wanted is casting with the hounds' noses 

 down. On a good scent quick casting, without anything in 

 the way of hurried excitement, is what should be aimed at. 

 Good huntsmen when on a faint line ride in rear of the pack 

 and encourage those behind to work up to the leaders ; they 

 do not ride ahead and holloa for the rest to come up. When 

 hounds check they should be allowed to spread out in all 

 directions, and at first the huntsman sits still. Some bad 

 huntsmen begin business almost before hounds check at all, 

 just because they are slowing up, and begin " yo-yoting " 

 before they are actually off the line ; what happens is that 

 the pack lift their heads and look in the direction in which 

 the huntsman's horse's head is pointing. 



The amount of use a huntsman makes of " holloas " 

 depends upon the reliance he can place in those " holloas." 

 A whip's " holloa " he never neglects, or a hat held up belong- 

 ing to someone who really knows the job. I have seen a 

 huntsman gallop up to a countryman as if he would swallow 

 him, and scream out, " Where's he gone ? " as if the man had 



