234 FOX-HUNTING TYPES 



knowing many of them by sight and name, and notes 

 the absence of any celebrity of his acquaintance with 

 regret, and is soon in conversation with the Hunt 

 servants or the M.F.H. himself. 



As to his horse, such a man seldom rides one that 

 cannot "get him there," though he may not be fas- 

 tidious as to appearance or particular as to whether 

 the animal will pass the vet. or no, and he gets on his 

 back without any sort of idea of showing off his 

 horsemanship, but simply with the intent of keeping 

 within such distance of the hounds as will enable him 

 to watch them to his own satisfaction, no matter how 

 far or how fast they run. 



This is the matter-of-course programme with him 

 always, and if he fail to carry it out — and the best 

 will sometimes fail — most dire will be his disappoint- 

 ment ; though jealousy of other riders, ambition to 

 be alone with hounds, or the desire to jump unneces- 

 sary fences never crosses his mind. Not that he does 

 not enjoy the stirring sensation of pace, or the " feel " 

 of the elastic spring that carries him over the obstacles. 

 What man can help doing that ? But these are only 

 accessories to his pleasure, to the delight he feels in 

 being able to see the gallant pack racing along over 

 the greensward after their quarry, while their 

 melodious cry causes a strange electric thrill to shoot 

 through his frame. He is well aware that he is then 

 having the very quintessence of the fun ; yet should 

 the pace suddenly slacken, his pleasure will hardly 

 be lessened when he draws rein to watch them stoop 

 for the scent, to note how busily each hound is working 

 to carry the line; how, opening and shutting like a 



