82 HORNS, HOLLOAS, DOG LANGUAGE 



was no doubt greatly served by his perfect com- 

 mand of the instrument. In the Kilkenny country, 

 however, this great execution is not so much called 

 for. 



I take it that the horn should give forth no sound 

 that has not a meaning to the hounds, and that the 

 field also should be able to know what is meant by 

 the various blasts ; and, as we are not aware that 

 hounds, however " musical " they may be, have a 

 quick ear for tune, I think it follows that the fewer 

 variations of sound they are treated to the better, if 

 the horn is to be efficacious. 



An occasional alert note during a long draw seems 

 to enliven the work. Quickly repeated once or tivice 

 when the find is proclaimed, and accompanying the 

 " Hoick together," that note seems to stimulate the 

 listening pack to rush to support their comrades' cry. 

 Then the " doubling " of the horn when — supreme 

 moment of all ! — he is away, and the huntsman gets 

 his pack together for the pursuit ; surely there should 

 be no mistaking that sound, and all foxhounds should 

 love to fly to it. What vim and fire Frank Beers 

 managed to put into those quick, stirring notes ! 

 And Mr. Watson, too ! How often I hear it in my 

 dreams, my good dreams I — " Tally-ho, gone away ! 

 Tally-ho, gone away ! " it seemed to say. " Better be 

 quick ; better be quick ; better be quick ! " 



No, there certainly should be no mistaking the 

 " gone away "' call, and none other that resembles it 

 should, I think, ever be sounded. I have heard a 

 " double " sounded for the view in covert, and even 

 in a gorse covert a huntsman of my acquaint- 



