260 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



and the terriers have fixed the fox in an anofle of it ; 

 for they then find it a more expeditious method to sink 

 a pit as near to him as they can. You should always 

 keep a terrier in at the fox ; for, if you do not, he not 

 only may move, but also, in loose ground, may dig 

 himself further in. In digging, you should keep room 

 enough ; and care should be taken not to throw the 

 earth where you may have to move it again. In fol- 

 lowing the hole, the surest way not to lose it is to keep 

 below it. When your hounds are in want of blood, 

 stop all the holes, lest the fox should bolt out unseen. 

 It causes no small confusion when this happens : the 

 hounds are dispersed about, and asleep in different 

 places ; the horses are often at a considerable distance ; 

 and many a fox, by taking advantage of the moment, 

 has saved his life. 



If hounds want blood, and have had a long run, it 

 is the best way, without doubt, to kill the fox upon the 

 earth ; but, if they have not run long ; if it be easy to 

 dig out the fox, and the cover be such a one as they 

 are not likely to change in — it is better for the hounds 

 to turn him out upon the earth, and let them work for 

 him. It is the blood that will do them most good, and 

 may be serviceable to the hounds, to the horses, and 

 to yourself. Digging a fox is cold work, and may 

 require a gallop afterwards, to warm you all again. 

 Before you do this, if there be any other earths in the 

 cover, they should be stopped, lest the fox should go 

 to ground again. 



Let your huntsman try all around, and let him be 

 perfectly satisfied that the fox is not gone on, before 



