A PLEA FOR INTEREST IN HOUNDS 43 



gallop, checked. A lady, who had certainly ridden 

 well to the fore, came up to a well-known sports- 

 man who was intently watching for the recovery of 

 the line, and in excited tones exclaimed, " Wasn't 

 it grand ? wasn't it grand ? Talk to me ! talk to 

 me ! " and because he failed to comply with what 

 she, no doubt, thought a most reasonable request, 

 that well-known sportsman got himself very much 

 disliked. 



How pleasant it must have been for Master, hunts- 

 man, and field to find tlieir fox headed back on their 

 drawing a covert by an individual who had gone on 

 and posted himself at the far end instead of going 

 to the meet ! and when the fox was chopped in 

 covert, what balm to their wounded spirits, what 

 recompense for their disappointment to hear his 

 excuse, " But I knew you would eventually come 

 there " ! 



Apropos of this story, I cannot help quoting Rule 

 3 of the " Rudimentary Rules." " When you have 

 ascertained by inquiry or your own superior intel- 

 ligence, which covert is to be drawn, do not follow 

 the hounds thereto if you think you know a shorter 

 way. Go your own route and post yourself where 

 you think they will eventually come. You will thus 

 show your knowledge of the country, and be able 

 to tell the huntsman if you have seen a fox come 

 out and return into the covert. If you take seven 

 friends with you your success will be all the more 

 certain." 



I have heard it said of late years that the tempers 

 of amateur huntsmen are often unbearable ; but 



