HUNTSMAN 35 



the night. The cubs are by that time moving, 

 and soon found ; and the longer you run the 

 cooler it is, instead of getting broiled with heat 

 at nine or ten in the morning. The result was, 

 the cubs took more time to kill than in the 

 morning ; probably owing to their being more fit 

 to run, being lighter. But the later it was, the 

 cooler it was also ; and, consequently, the hounds 

 were never so much distressed as in the heat of 

 the morning, which increased as the hounds got 

 tired. Yet however agreeable it may be, it is not 

 so much like business as in the morning ; the men 

 have a great deal to do afterwards, and it dis- 

 arranges the establishment. Still it is a more 

 gentlemanlike hour for a man who hunts his own 

 hounds ; and on a quiet evening nothing can 

 exceed the pleasurable feeling it creates. One of 

 the greatest objections to it is, that many men 

 are induced to ride out at that time with the 

 hounds, who would not early in the morning ; 

 and nothing is more annoying to a huntsman than 

 having strange horses in the rides when the young 

 hounds first enter, and the pack are running in 

 cover. It cuts them off and prevents their getting 

 about with the huntsman, and they get ridden 

 over, either owing to their own awkwardness or 

 that of the horse or rider. Therefore it is best 

 not to make known when they are going ; at all 



