AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL 59 



After all, fox-hunting is a pastime to many — nay, 

 most — of the field, and not an all-absorbing pursuit, as 

 it is to some of us, and to the majority of Masters 

 of Hounds. But the field is variously constituted 

 (please remember, O M.F.H. !), and all have come 

 out to enjoy themselves after their own fashion. 

 Jones is going to hunt to-day and to play golf 

 to-morrow ; he really does not know which he likes 

 best — his golf, perhaps ! Smith hopes to have a 

 gallop early, so as to get home and try for the fish 

 he rose yesterday. Brown likes to see his friends, 

 and is fond of horse exercise. Jenkins' doctor tells 

 him to hunt for the good of his liver — these are a 

 few out of many reasons for the presence of your 

 field, O "Chase Master"! But to you the whole 

 thing is business — business strict and all-important. 

 Care and thought, time and trouble, expense and 

 worry, are necessary — and experience — in order to 

 bring about a good day's sport, which may be so 

 very easily spoiled. It is, perhaps, then, too much 

 to expect that the Master should have great considera- 

 tion for ^the reasons which induce his field to hunt. 

 He is there to show them sport if he can, and he 

 means to try. On the other hand, the professional 

 huntsman, till his fox is found, has few cares ; he 

 hopes for a scent, and he hopes for a " bit o' luck." 

 He looks »to the Master " to keep the gentlemen 

 back " till the hounds settle on the line, and not to 

 let any one press him too closely when he has to cast 

 for his fox. He, therefore, sets to work with unruffled 

 temper and with unclouded brow. 



His time of anxiety will begin with the actual chase. 



