THE KNOWLEDGE OF A HUNTSMAN 237 



remain upon their benches, unless they be confined : 

 yet, without doubt, lying upon the pavement, or even 

 standing out in the cold after violent exercise, must be 

 prejudicial to them. 



I am glad to hear that your huntsman knows the 

 country which he is to hunt : nothing in fox-hunting is 

 more essential than that; and it may make amends 

 for many faults. Foxes are not capricious : they know 

 very well what they are about ; are quick, I believe, 

 at determining, and resolute in persevering : they 

 generally have a point to go to ; and, though headed 

 and turned directly from it, seldom fail to make it 

 good at the last : this, therefore, is a great help to an 

 observing huntsman. 



Suffer not your huntsman to encourage his hounds 

 too much on a bad-scenting day, particularly in covers 

 where there is much riot. Hark ! hark ! hark ! which 

 injudicious huntsmen are so fond of upon every occa- 

 sion, must often do mischief, and cannot do good : 

 while hounds are near together, they will get sooner to 

 the hound that challenges without that noise than with 

 it. If it be a right scent, they will be ready enough to 

 join ; and if it be a wrong one, provided they be let 

 alone, they will soon leave it : injudicious encourage- 

 ment, on a bad day, might make them run something 

 or other, right or wrong. 



I know of no fault so bad in a hound as that of 

 running false : it should never be forgiven. Such as 

 are not stout, or are stiff-nosed, or have other faults, 

 may at times do good, and, at their worst, may do no 

 harm ; but such as run false, most probably, will spoil 



