15 



through the stain of sheep, is to Hft Hounds. That's 

 well enough if you know the exact point to go to, but 

 if you don't hit the exact place you lose a lot of time. 

 Mr. Meynell seldom or never attempted to lift Hounds 

 through sheep. My practice is to get behind them, 

 press them on, and encourage them forward. In going 

 to a certainty go as fast as you can get your Hounds 

 there with you ; it's no use getting there without them. 



The following remarks were written to my Hunts- 

 man, George Cross, at Atherston, in 1855 : " I do 

 not mean to say that these are rules, for no man can 

 hunt a fox by rule ; but I want to make you think 

 about them. In the first place, keep your Hounds 

 light in condition. We have always had them higher 

 than other people's without being superior to them. 

 Now let us try the contrary, of course in moderation. 



" In going to a holloa in covert you often come 

 cheering your Hounds — ' Hark ! hark ! ' Some stray 

 Hound hits a line, and your cheer sends the others 

 to his cry, and brings back those which are nearer 

 the holloa. ' Forward (get away forward), Hark, holloa ! 

 hark ! ' in distinction to ' Hark cry.' If the Hounds 

 will come to my whistle, and I am nearer the fox 

 than you are, do not View holloa behind me, the effect 

 of which is to stop those which I have with me. 



