ON THE MANNER OF DRAWING 203 



hounds, and the covers that they are drawing, will 

 direct an observing huntsman in the pace which he 

 ought to go. When you try a furze-brake, let me 

 give you one caution — never halloo a fox till you see 

 that he is quite clear of it. When a fox is found in 

 such places, hounds are sure to go off well with him ; 

 and it must be owing either to bad scent, bad hounds, 

 bad management, or bad luck, if they fail to kill him 

 afterwards. 



It is usual, in most packs, to rate, as soon as a 

 young hound challenges. Though young hounds are 

 often wrong, yet, since it is not impossible that they 

 may be sometimes right, is it not as well to have a 

 little patience, in order to see whether any of the old 

 ones will join, before anything is said to them ? 

 Have-a-care ! is fully sufficient, till you are more cer- 

 tain that the hound is on a wron^ scent. I mention 

 this as a hint only : I am myself no enemy to a rate: 

 I cannot think that a fox was ever lost, or a pack 

 spoilt, by it : it is improper encouragement that I am 

 afraid of most. 



When a fox slinks from his kennel, gets a great 

 way before the hounds, and you are obliged to hunt 

 after him with a bad scent ; if it be a country where 

 foxes are in plenty, and you know where to find 

 another, you had better do it. 1 



While hounds are drawing for a fox, let your people 

 place themselves in such a manner, that he cannot go 



1 Yet, if this were practised often, it might make the hounds in- 

 different when upon a cold scent. Hounds should be made to believe 

 they are to kill that game which they are first encouraged to pursue. 



