The Life of a Great Sportsman 



great width for a horse to clear. All he has to do is to jump 

 well up and not hit the binder with his knees, the prizes that 

 are given in so many counties for hedge-plashing having, as a 

 result, made the newly-laid fences very strong. 



In former days the Meltonian was wont to gallop to covert 

 on a hack, and would ride his hunter home at the end of the 

 day. But all that is now changed, and in the luxurious age 

 we live in the motor takes us to the meet, and, no matter in 

 what part of the country hounds leave off, the telephone is 

 requisitioned, and the same vehicle takes us home again. 

 Distance is, of course, of no consequence to the motor, but 

 it does seem rather hard on the horse, who has carried you 

 well all through the day, to be ridden some few miles out of 

 his way home to where the car is stationed. Long distances 

 do not affect hounds half so much as horses, and jogging twelve 

 or fifteen miles to covert does the former, if fit, far more good 

 than taking them to the meet in a van. A hound, in fact, that 

 cannot tire out three horses isn't worth keeping. 



It is not, of course, given to mortals to command success, 

 but there can be no question that the first essential to the 

 ensurement of good sport in the hunting field is for the master 

 and his huntsmen to be thoroughly keen. No detail, however 

 small, must be left to chance, for a good run may easily be 

 made or marred by the merest trifle. No stone must be left 

 unturned to secure the services of a good huntsman, and the 

 choice of the whippers-in is almost of equal importance. Though 

 all this means a good deal of trouble, the reward will be com- 

 mensurate, you may depend, in the long run. Hunt servants — 

 or any other, for that matter — well up in the duties of their 

 calling soon find out when they have a good Master, and will 

 not only respect him, but, in addition, put their whole heart 

 into their work. 



248 



