204 The Chase 



The fox has broken covert, you see him. 

 Gentlemen, Gentlemen, do not roar out " tally- 

 ho," do not screech horribly. If you do he will 

 turn back, even under your horses' feet in spite of 

 the sad and disappointed look on your handsome 

 or ugly faces. Do not crack your infernal whips. 

 Be silent. 



If the chase runs the road — Gentlemen, allow 

 the Huntsman to take the lead. You must be 

 particularly careful in the roads and lanes ; they 

 are the devil, and spoil many a good chase. 



Gentlemen, when the Huntsman is making a 

 cast, sit quietly and sedately on your horses, do not 

 ride after him. 



Hounds have mended the fault, they are going 

 again, but the scent is not so good. Gentlemen, 

 give them room. 



The scent mends, dead beat the fox gains a small 

 covert. Now, Gentlemen, be not rash, do not 

 holloa — do not meet him in a ride or path. I 

 once unwittingly saved the life of a fox when 

 Mr. Bulteel's hounds were in the very act of 

 catching him. 



He ran under my horse, in another moment the 

 hounds would have had him. I roared most lustily. 

 The hounds stopped one moment, to ask me what 

 the devil I made such a noise about ; that half 

 minute's check saved the fox's life. 



Who-whoop. " Triumph " has him. Tear him 

 and eat him, my beauties. Yet even in this last 

 act, so very delightful after a good run to blood- 

 thirsty hounds and screaming men ; take care — 

 keep your panting steeds away from the "melee," or 

 they will cripple their fellow steeds (let alone the 

 brush and pad seizcrs), and kick the hounds, and 

 maybe occasion more deaths than one. 



