HUNTSMAN 29 



at first had it been right, owing to its being rather 

 up wind ; when, if it does happen to be right, 

 they hit it off directly, so that it takes scarcely a 

 minute to hold them round back, behind the spot 

 where they checked, about a hundred yards or so. 

 He then turns and takes a little wider circle back, 

 round in front all the way, to the left the same 

 distance, till he reaches or nearly so, the line he 

 came to behind the check at first. Now having 

 ascertained for certain that his fox is not gone 

 back, or short to the right or left, he can with 

 confidence begin a wider cast than he would have 

 ventured to make otherwise, owing to a fear that 

 the fox had headed back, or to the right or left. 

 The wide cast he commences on the left from 

 behind, progressing according to his judgment, 

 and selecting the best scenting-ground forward 

 beyond any fallow or bad scenting-ground. As he 

 now knows that the fox must be gone on, this 

 cast is continued all round in front, and to the 

 right, till he again reaches the line behind. He 

 then takes a wider cast either way, and is guided 

 by circumstances ; but nineteen times out of 

 twenty this last is not required, except the fo^ 

 is headed some distance back, and the steam 

 stain of the horses prevents the hounds feeling 

 the scent, the quick first cast back. If there is 

 no wind to guide him, there may be a cover to 



