60 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



that he has no excuse for spoiHng the sport of 

 others, and, although he is not abused to his face, 

 he is behind his back. A story is told of a good 

 old sportsman who was often annoyed by some 

 men for not acting as he thought right in the field, 

 and the only method he had of correcting them 

 was by taking an opportunity, when the whipper-in 

 was also committing the same fault, of heartily 

 cursing him in their presence, finishing with " I 

 may d — ^n you ! " 



Men who are not acquainted with the grass 

 countries, in particular where the fences consist of 

 live quicks and thorns, will do well to notice when 

 a hedge is cut which way it is laid down to the 

 top, and put his horse at it obliquely, with his 

 head from the root of the thorn, and the top of 

 the thorn being weak will give way to the horse's 

 legs ; but if he goes straight against it, he stands 

 a good chance of a fall, — and if he goes obliquely, 

 on the contrary plan, he reduces his fall to a 

 certainty should the horse not clear any strong 

 plasher which rises when the horse's knees are 

 under it, — but not so the other way. 



Young sportsmen are apt to think it right to 

 be first if they can throughout a run ; but they 

 will do well to take it quietly at the beginning, 

 and by that means they may be first at the end 

 of the run, which otherwise they would never 



