144 2^iKtng to f^ounU^. 



fox, who, having been marked to ground and left 

 in some village drain, would assuredly have been 

 worried by the terriers of his friends but for his 

 very timely remonstrance. 



Never ride your horse to run the risk of either killing 

 or injuring him fromi over-exhaustion. In a huntsman 

 (though seldom) duty may compel an undue strain 

 sometimes to be put upon a generous horse, but in 

 your case never. To a horseman of the most ordinary 

 experience and observation there can be no mistaking 

 the rolling gait, dead, heavy pull at the bridle, and 

 chancey jumping of a "beaten" horse, who, more 

 often than not, when in distress, will, if a generous 

 one, rush at, rather than try to shirk his fences ; but 

 do not mistake this apparent eagerness on his part 

 for capability of proceeding further, for it is nothing 

 of the sort, only, indeed, often being by one short 

 stage removed from the actual '* full stop," stiffened 

 neck, quivering tail, dilated nostrils, and extended 

 feet, which denote exhaustion so complete that neither 

 the brutality or ignorance of the rider can induce 

 him to proceed farther. 



But this stage should never be arrived at by you. 

 You hunt for sport, and sport, when it becomes 

 cruelty, is unworthy of the name. That " spurs are 

 for use, and not abuse," has been wisely said ; and 

 if nine men out of every ten were to ride without 



