8o The Chase 



A Tired Fox ^:> .^> o 



A HUNTED fox is a most difficult thing to be 

 certain about, and at times even the most ex- 

 perienced will be deceived. A fox that is very 

 tired indeed will at times, and especially if he is being 

 holloaed at, look and move exactly like a fresh one ; 

 but if you are lucky enough to get a good view of 

 him without his seeing you, you can generally tell. 

 If you are a good way ahead of the hounds, and the 

 hunted fox comes up to you and lies down, and you 

 hear the pack hunting up to him, let him lie ; watch 

 him, but do not say a word. Every minute he lies 

 there is bringing his enemies nearer to him, and 



making his death more certain. Of course, if the 

 hounds are manifestly at fault, or have changed on 

 to a fresh fox, you must attract the huntsman's 

 attention somehow. In the open this can generally 

 be done by holding up your cap without moving 

 the fox ; in covert you will probably be obliged to 

 give him a holloa, but you must not do so till other 

 means have failed. 



Henry Verney^ XFIIIth Baron 

 IV i I lough by de Broke. 



'Ware Babble ! <^ <:> ^^p^ 



WHEN your hounds are at fault, let not a 

 word be said : let such as follow them 

 ignorantly and unworthily, stand all aloof, — Procul^ 

 O procul este profani I — for whilst such are chattering, 

 not a hound will hunt. " A-propos^ Sir," a politician 

 will say ; " What news from America ? " " A- 

 propos. Do you think both the admirals will be 

 tried ? " — or, " a-propos. Did you hear what has 

 happened to my grandmother ? " Such questions 



