KEEP NEAR TO THE FOX 235 



long fault, it is over, and you had better then go 

 home. 



The many chances that are against you in fox- 

 hunting : the changing frequently ; the heading of the 

 foxes ; their being coursed by sheep-dogs ; long faults; 

 cold hunting ; and the dying away of the scent ; make 

 it necessary to keep always as near to the fox as you 

 can ; which should be the first and invariable principle 

 of fox-hunting. Long days do great hurt to a pack of 

 fox-hounds. I set out one day last winter from the 

 kennel at half-past seven, and returned home a quarter 

 before eight at night, the hounds running hard the 

 greatest part of the time : the huntsman killed one 

 horse and tired another, and the hounds did not re- 

 cover for more than a week : l we took them off at 

 last, when they were running with a better scent than 

 they had had the whole day. I also remember, after 

 it was quite dark, to have heard a better view-halloo 

 from an owl, than I ever heard from a sportsman in 

 my life, though I hope that I shall never hear such 

 another. A long day, nevertheless, once or twice in a 



be too far behind, and thereby lose an opportunity that is offered them of 

 making some amends for the mischiefs they have already done. When 

 hounds flag from frequent changes, and the huntsman's horse sinks under 

 the fatigue of a tiresome day, then it is that sportsmen may assist them. 

 Such as know the hounds, should then ride up to them : they should 

 endeavour, by great encouragement, to keep them running, and get those 

 forward that may be behind ; for when hounds that are tired once come 

 to hunting, they tie upon the scent, and, by losing time, lose every chance 

 they had of killing the fox : great encouragement, and proper and timely 

 assistance, only can prevent it. 



1 Hounds, after every hard day, should have two clear days to rest : it 

 does them less hurt to hunt two days following, when their work is easy, 

 than to hunt, before they may be perfectly recovered, after having been 

 hard-run. 



