266 HUNTING MISERIES: 



back and be viewed ; " Tally-ho ! back ! " is shouted, and 

 you pull up, unaware that the pack is on with another 

 one — such are some of the reasons I call to mind in 

 my own experience which have caused me to lose a 

 start and begin that progress so full of anxiety, of 

 alternating hope and despair, known as " riding a stern 

 chase." 



Hounds are away, and from some reason or another, 

 probably through your own stupidity or obstinacy, 

 you have lost your start, and, recognising the situation, 

 you set to work manfully to try to catch them. They 

 cannot be so very far in front, you argue. Here are 

 fresh footprints ! There is an indescribable noise in 

 the air, and you fancy you can see the man on the 

 haycock ahead looking westward and shading his eyes ; 

 so, setting your teeth and hardening your heart, you 

 make a bee-line across country for that haycock. 

 Jumping your fences a thought quicker than usual and 

 bucketing unmercifully between them, the haycock is 

 soon reached, and a hurried inquiry elicits the shout 

 " They're ten minutes gone." Be not dismayed ! Your 

 watch will show you it is little more than ten minutes 

 since they found their fox, so you may safely set the 

 ten minutes down as two, or three at the most, and, 

 catching sight of horsemen in front, you peg away at 

 the same reckless pace. Soon you grasp the probable 

 direction of the chase : you make up your mind as to 

 the possible point, if you know the country ; and you 

 form your plans. If, like the immortal Soapey Sponge, 

 you " would be first or nowhere," and despise " plodding 

 on the line," you will probably pull up here. If, like 

 myself, you are cast in less ambitious mould, you will 



