RIDING TO HOUNDS 31 



To whichever category of riders to hounds a man may 

 choose to belong, whether he means to take pride of place 

 amongst the top-sawyers, or, though in the second flight, to be 

 as near them as he can ; to struggle manfully in a third division, 

 or toil wearily in the heterogeneous ruck ; to join his fortunes 

 to those of the short-cut and point riders, or to avow himself 

 honestly an adherent of Macadam quickness and decision at 

 the start will best enable him to fulfil his aspirations, however 

 lofty or however humble. In this, as in most human affairs, it 

 is even better to decide wrongly than not to decide at all, since 

 the very habit of making up one's mind in a moment is a 

 discipline which soon conduces to forming right determinations. 

 A man who hesitates when * Gone away, away, away ! ' or sound 

 of horn or whistle gives the devil-take-the-hindmost signal, 

 may occasionally have a good start forced upon him, but rarely 

 if ever gets one for himself. Having once decided, go at once 

 whether it be for gate, gap, or hog-backed stile. It is marvellous 

 how soon a quick man finds himself comparatively clear of any 

 crowd, and able, if need be, to reconsider the position or to 

 rectify a false move without let or hindrance from jostling 

 fellow-sportsmen ; he will be half way to Overton fishponds or 

 Rocart spinney ere a quarter of the field have emerged from 

 the well-known bridle gate at the top of Ranksborough, at 

 which portal more cursing and confusion annually takes place 

 than at any other bolt-hole of similar size and inconvenience 

 in the United Kingdom. 



Various articles of faith, all more or less dogmatic, and 

 therefore all more or less misleading, have been handed down 

 from generation to generation, till they have almost attained 

 the dignity of a cross-country creed, of which two of the best 

 known doctrines are, 'Never ride fast at timber,' 'Always ride 

 fast at water.' Not bad general rules either, if frequent exceptions 

 are admitted ; but the idiosyncrasies of each individual horse, 

 whether they be the result of education or instinct, must be a 

 potent factor in determining the best way of. sending him at 

 any sort of fence, the best being always whatever is easiest to 



