Humour in the Chase 203 



Close on his flying traces came 



And almost won that desperate game, 



When, just as the Earl prepared to sound 



The death who-whoop, he ran to ground. 



So they dug him out — and the Earl and his groom 



And the Browns, and the gent, and the man with 



the broom. 

 And the fox and the hounds are at Tring again, 

 And the Earl has gone home by the four o'clock 



train. 



Anon. 



The Bedale " Rules of Advice " «^o 



(Drawn up by W. Daubuz, Master of the Bedale, 

 1840-54) 



TO all Western sporters, greeting ; For this 

 Cornwall is a ticklish hunting ground. 

 To all who ride to meet with the hounds. 

 Take especial care not to ride over them : take 

 care of their precious feet. Do not talk to the 

 Huntsman or Whipper. 



Lords, Gentlemen, and Yeomen. — When the 

 hounds are drawing a covert, keep together in 

 one place : do not talk, do not laugh, above all 

 things. Aristocrats, Democrats, Whigs, Radicals, 

 Tories, for Heaven's sake do not whistle ; that 

 whistling creates bitter confusion. When you 

 hear a hound challenge, do not sing out " huic 

 huic," which is your custom. If you think the 

 Huntsman does not hear the challenge, go quietly 

 and quickly to him and tell him, then allow him 

 to cheer the challenger, do not add your voices. 



