168 ON HUNTING. 



as the hounds, unless yo u know the country then you 

 can't he left behind wit hout a struggle. To keep in the 

 same field as the hounds when they are running, is 

 more than any man can undertake to do. Make your 

 commencement in an easy country, and defer trying the 

 pasture counties until you are sure of yourself and 

 your horse. 



"If you should have a cold-scenting day, and any 

 first-rate steeplechase rider be in the field, breaking in 

 a young one, watch him ; you may learn more from 

 seeing what he does, than from hours of advice, or pages 

 of reading. 



" Above all, hold your tongue until you have learnt 

 your lesson ; and talk neither of your triumphs nor your 

 failures. Any fool can boast ; and though to ride boldly 

 and with judgment is very pleasant, there is nothing for 

 a gentleman to be specially proud of, considering that 

 two hundred huntsmen, or whips, do it better than most 

 gentlemen every hunting day in the season." 



When you meet the pack with a strange horse, don't 

 go near it until sure that he will not kick at hounds, as 

 some ill-educated horses will do. 



Before the hounds begin to draw, you may get some 

 useful information as to a strange country from a talka- 

 tive farmer. 



When hounds are drawing a large cover, and when 

 you cannot see them, keep down wind, so as to hear 

 the huntsman, who, iti large woodlands, must keep on 

 cheering his hounds. When a fox breaks cover near 

 you, or you think he does, don't be in a hurry to 

 give the " Tally-a-e-o !" for, in the first place, if you 

 are not experienced and quick-eyed, it may not be a 

 fox at all, but a dog, or a hare. The mistake is 

 common to psople who are always in a hurry, and 



