FOX-HOUNDS 103 



hounds can hunt it, and do a certain distance, yet 

 at times they find the hound's scent as well, and 

 do not much like it. Eventually, nine times 

 out of ten, it brings them to a check every five 

 hundred yards ; and, if it is a bad scent, much 

 oftener. As an old sportsman in the New Forest 

 once said to the writer, who had remarked to 

 him on a hound having been first all day : " I'll 

 tell you how it is ; d — n him, he runs mute." 

 You set two men to run up a hill, one of them 

 to halloo all the way up and the other to run 

 mute, and you will find that the man who ran 

 mute will get to the top before the other gets half 

 way. Indeed, when hounds go the best pace, they 

 must go mute ; and the few that do throw their 

 tongues are those whimpering behind, because 

 they cannot get up. 



Another fault is skirting. This is also often a 

 source of regret, for many capital hounds become 

 skirters, and it is often a proof of their having 

 greater sagacity than the rest. How very fre- 

 quently do you see the skirting hound make the 

 most beautiful casts and surprising hits of his own 

 accord. But one skirt er makes many, both of 

 hounds and men ; and creates the greatest con- 

 fusion should he get on another fox, etc. In 

 short, there is no end to the mischief he creates. 

 You see him slipping down a ride to cross the line 



