66 SHORT MASTERSHIPS 



Probably the M.F.H. alone, by diligent subsequent 

 inquiry, discovers by what curious means the hard- 

 pressed fox escaped — and some of these escapes are 

 really very v^onderful. But the critics settle that 

 the hounds have become slack, and cannot kill their 

 foxes. " Slack huntsmen make slack hounds," &c., &c., 

 and so the bad vrord goes round, and the erstwhile 

 successful M.F.H. soon finds many detractors, and 

 will need a great turn of luck in his favour to pre- 

 vent the adverse feeling becoming so hostile as to find 

 expression at the next annual Hunt meeting. 



Of course the M.F.H. will have friends among the 

 sportsmen who know and appreciate with gratitude 

 his endeavours to show sport or to improve the 

 country ; and, secure of their goodwill, he may treat 

 lightly what others say ; but, although a Master of 

 Hounds, he yet may actually be possessed of a sensi- 

 tive soul, and to know that blame is being laid when 

 only gratitude is due is more than many folk can 

 bear with equanimity. K the members of a sub- 

 scription Hunt have their affairs in the hands of a 

 strong committee, and if the committee be properly 

 constituted — that is, if it be composed for the most 

 part of sportsmen who know something about the 

 internal economy and management of a Hunt estab- 

 lishment as well as about the management of a 

 country, the chances are that the M.F.H. will receive 

 proper support as long as he tries to do his best, 

 and has efficient horses and servants ; but let a hint 

 be entertained that another man would be willing 

 to take the hounds on a reduced subscription, or (if 

 the present M.F.H. hunts his own hounds) that he 



