22 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



drawing to get hounds on, and to let them know 

 where he is. It will also assist in moving a fox. 

 By this method he will have voice left to halloo 

 and cheer when they have found. This is only 

 necessary in bad scenting countries, but in a good 

 one no fear but all men have voice enough, and 

 lucky indeed are they who do not require it, for 

 it is mere play in comparison. Few men who 

 hunt hounds in the north, know what a bad scent- 

 ing country is. Let them ask Tom Sebright, one 

 of the best, who now hunts Lord Fitzwilliam's 

 hounds ; as he once hunted part of Hampshire, 

 the Hambledon country, half a season with Mr. 

 Osbaldiston's hounds, he well knows the difference 

 it made both to himself and his hounds, — so much 

 so that no money would have kept him there, 

 even had the hounds remained ; for what is called 

 in these lower countries a fair holding scent, in 

 the upper countries they would call insufferable, 

 and whip off and find a fresh fox. But if the 

 same scent was to be always given up in the other 

 cold-scenting country, they would not kill a fox 

 in a month, and hounds might also as well be 

 given up altogether. 



Huntsmen are apt to think that their hunted fox 

 must be more beaten than is the case, and often 

 hang about at a check, trying every hedgerow, 

 and expecting to see the hounds lay hold of him ; 



