14 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



to be attacked by name, even when they have 

 done mischief, nor does a huntsman feel com- 

 fortable if he has been led to speak sharply in 

 the heat of the chase ; for, on second thoughts, 

 he will recollect that it was the ardour which he 

 most likes to see, that led them on. 



It is not only right that a huntsman should 

 keep with his hounds in the open, but it is of the 

 greatest consequence for him to do so when his 

 hounds are running in cover ; particularly if the 

 fox has been hunted, and at all beaten. He must 

 not allow anything to make him lose the cry of 

 the pack, but keep within hearing at all hazards ; 

 for, although it sometimes appears that all is 

 going so well, that he may stand still and let them 

 come round, and that he will meet them. But 

 if he does this he will surely repent it, nine times 

 out of ten ; something is certain to happen, when 

 least expected ; the merest trifle may bring them 

 to a check, which he would have seen and got 

 over, had he been there ; therefore, never leave them. 

 If no other means, he should keep down wind 

 enough ; for if they divide when he does not hear 

 the leading hounds, he is just as likely to go away 

 with a fresh fox as not, and leave his beaten one 

 in the cover, which is the cause of so many foxes 

 escaping. But if he does stick to them, and never 

 lose the cry of the leading hound, even if only 



