24 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



be where he will, even if in the middle of a wood. 

 It is truly remarkable how very few men appear 

 to have thought this necessary. 



These observations relating to huntsmen will 

 nearly finish with one of the greatest consequence, 

 which, though often unattended to, should be 

 so most strictly, on the principle that whatever is 

 worth doing at all is worth doing well. There is 

 nothing more disheartening to a field of sportsmen, 

 than for a huntsman or master of hounds to trifle 

 with them— pretending to draw for a fox, when 

 it is evident that they do not intend to let the 

 hounds find one if they can help it — by taking 

 them through the parts of a cover quickly where 

 there is no lying, although there is plenty on the 

 other side, which they avoid, knowing it would 

 be a certain find if they would let the hounds 

 draw it ; or probably missing other sure places, 

 and drawing unlikely ones, until their time is spun 

 out that they may go home. This is an unpar- 

 donable trick. Why not at once say, We will go 

 home, gentlemen ? If this conduct proceeds from 

 slackness in a huntsman, it is high time he should 

 be drafted — his day is gone by. But, if there is 

 any reason for his not wishing to find again, let 

 him say so, and people will be satisfied, and 

 go home without being disgusted. This seldom 

 happens with men who hunt their own hounds, 



