HUNTSMAN 15 



one, when they divide, he gets on with the right, 

 and, by cheering and the use of the horn, he may 

 keep to his right fox. Although the crash with 

 the other lot is much greater, this hound will not 

 leave the hunted one ; and if a whipper-in is active, 

 he will soon stop the others, even if there be 

 eighteen couple out of twenty running the fresh 

 fox. When an old fox has come some distance, 

 and is a little beaten, he turns so short in cover, 

 that, unless a huntsman is within hearing when 

 he does come up at a check, he is at a loss how 

 to act, and had better stand perfectly quiet, and let 

 the old hounds do it, or it is probable he will do 

 mischief by holding them either way ; besides, it 

 does hounds so much harm not letting them get 

 out of difficulties themselves — in cover particu- 

 larly. But had he been up at the check, or near 

 enough to have heard which way the leading 

 hound was bearing, he might have profited by 

 it, if they did not hit it off quickly. Here it is 

 where foxes beat hounds, principally owing to a 

 huntsman not exerting himself to the very utmost ; 

 but, fancying that the hounds will be sure to kill 

 him, they foolishly think it of no consequence, 

 and take it too quietly. 



More foxes are lost when dead beaten than at 

 any other time ; and here show their superior 

 cunning, by the wonderful tricks they play the 



