32 



CHAPTEB IV. 



THE BEST RUN I EVER SAW. 



Many hunting men would find it difficult, I do not 

 doubt, to say definitely which was the best day of 

 their lives. Indeed there are many things wanted 

 to make up a good run, and even more to make it 

 an enjoyable one. In the first place, there must be a 

 burning scent and the hounds must run fast. Then 

 you must have a good straight-necked fox, who must 

 get well away without getting headed. Thirdly, 

 your mount, " the fiddle to which you are the bow," 

 must not only be as good as a horse can be, but he 

 must be in good condition and fit to run for a man's 

 life. Fourthly, your own nerve must be in rare 

 order. There must have been none of those late 

 hours and smoking-room symposia which make many 

 a man inclined to ''see what's the other side" of 

 his fences. The man's condition must be equal to 

 his horse's, or, when the former begins to fail, the 

 latter can give him no help. The country must be 

 favourable also, and nearly, if not quite, all grass. 

 The fences, while big enough to weed out the pro- 

 fanum vulguSy must be neither unjumpable nor wired. 

 Lastly, while no "real good thing" ever had many 

 " in it," there must be a few friends with you 



