HUNTING ON THE FELLS 87 



ing they will be in, no matter what you do. 

 Others, again, sheer off at the sHghtest hint, and 

 seek refuge elsewhere. Sometimes a fox has to 

 get to ground where he can, and I have seen one 

 get into what on the surface appeared to be quite 

 a simple spot, defy all the best efforts of terriers 

 and men to dislodge him. 



As may be imagined, the huntsman to a fell 

 pack must be a hard and tireless walker, for he has 

 many miles of rough ground to cover from the time 

 he leaves kennels in the morning until his return 

 at dusk or later. Even he gets tired at times, 

 but if it is humanly possible he will get all his 

 hounds back to kennels before dark, or, at any 

 rate, the same night. 



Sometimes hounds have to be left out, but by 

 the following day most of them will have found their 

 way home again. On these occasions one or two 

 of them may visit the farms or other places where 

 they spend the summer, if anywhere near them ; 

 and after a feed or a sleep, resume their journey. 



It is surprising how hungry one gets on the 

 fells. I remember on one occasion following 

 hounds from the Scandale vaUey, near Ambleside, 

 over Fairfield, across Deep dale, and out again to 

 the summit of Helvellyn. I was with the hunts- 

 man, and both of us had eaten our lunch some 

 hours previously. On the summit of Helvellyn 

 is a seat, and round it that afternoon were scattered 



