52 HUNTING ADVENTURES. 



his game. Those huntsmen who do not get forward enough to 

 take advantage of this eagerness and impetuosity, and direct i\ 

 properly, seldom know enough of hunting, to be of much use to 

 hem .afterwards. 



Though a huntsman cannot be too fond of hunting, a whipper- 

 in easily may. His business will seldom allow him to be forward 

 enough with the hounds to see much of the sport. His only 

 thought therefore should be to keep the hounds together, and to 

 contribute as much as he can, to the killing of the fox ; keeping 

 the hounds together is the surest means to make them steady 

 When left to themselves they seldom refuse any blood they can 

 get; they become conceited; learn to tie upon the scent; and 

 besides this, they frequently get a trick of hunting by themselves, 

 and are seldom good for much afterwards. Every country is 

 soon known ; and nine foxes out of ten, with the wind in the 

 same quarter, will follow the same track. It is easy therefore for 

 the whipper-in to cut short, and catch the hounds again. 



With a high scent you cannot push on hounds too much. 

 Screams keep the fox forward, at the same time that they keep 



the hounds together, or let in 

 the tail-hounds : they also en- 

 liven the sport ; and, if dis- 

 cretely used, are always of 

 service ; but in cover they 

 should be given with the 

 greatest caution. Halloos sel- 

 dom do any hurt when you 

 are running up the wind, for 

 then none but the tail-hounds can hear you : when you are run- 

 ning down the wind, you should* halloo no more than may be 

 necessary to bring the tail hounds forward ; for a hound that 

 knows his business seldom wants encouragement when he is 

 upon a scent. 



Most fox hunters, wish to see their hounds run in a good' style 

 A pack of harriers, if they have time, may kill a fox, but I defy 

 them to kiJl him in the style in which he ought to be killed; 



