158 THE HUNTED FOX AND HIS WILES 



very noticeable ; but we left him behind a few 

 moments later, for a good fox stole away through the 

 heather, was holloa'd, and naturally the huntsman got 

 his hounds out in pursuit. 



There is, of course, a well-known and deep-rooted 

 objection entertained by most huntsmen to killing 

 even a well-beaten fox in a gorse covert. It " stains " 

 the covert, we are told, and the chances are that 

 foxes will desert a covert so stained — for a time. 

 I cannot but think that this objection is somewhat 

 fallacious if the covert be of any size, and one that 

 usually holds several foxes ; but in very small gorses, 

 particularly if they have grown to be at all " open," 

 a kill does no doubt have a bad effect. In a season 

 like the present, however, when most coverts are 

 holding well, it seems to me that the hounds might 

 be considered before the reputation of the covert. 



No doubt there are numerous difficulties and 

 dangers ahead of the huntsman and whippers-in who 

 on tired horses arrive in the late afternoon within 

 a field or two of a covert towards which the gallant 

 pack are straining after their fox. What is to be 

 done ? If a fresh fox goes away and even a few 

 couples come out on his line, it may want a man 

 on a very fresh horse to stop them. The field is 

 scattered and squandered, and our huntsman hardly 

 likes to ask any of the gentlemen on their tired 

 horses to take up positions and lend a hand ; while 

 the idea of the whole pack starting away with an 

 old dog fox, empty from his long fast, fresh and 

 fit to run over the next two parishes, fairly makes 

 him shudder. " Best stop them when we can ! Get 



