18 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



which, the ground is not so much stained, and 

 also, by sticking to one, others find it best to get 

 out of the way. 



It often happens when a fox goes straight away 

 for several miles a pretty good pace, it is evident 

 from a sudden turn the hounds make that he is 

 afraid to go on, and begins to head back. If, on 

 occasions of this sort, he beats them out of scent 

 and all hunting is at an end, the best plan is to 

 finish with trotting back to the cover where he 

 was found ; most likely he will be got there, unless 

 you go back with the hounds too quickly, for a 

 fox often stops and listens when he finds he is 

 not pressed, and should he hear the huntsman, or 

 get wind of the pack on their way back, he will 

 bear off, or lie down, which is one reason why he 

 is not more easily beaten. If instead foxes were 

 to go on straight, best pace, they could not stand 

 it as they do, therefore it requires judgment in 

 not getting back to the cover too quickly. This 

 may be called, though unfairly so, lifting hounds ; 

 but it is not so, for it would not be done until 

 every other cast had been made. The question 

 therefore is this, if the hounds cannot hunt or 

 feel a scent, will you adopt this plan, or go home ? 

 Some may say, neither, but go and find a fresh 

 fox. By all means do this, if the pack have not 

 done much and another can be found quickly ; 



