114 FOX-HUNTING 



no use threatening to take hounds home and 

 not doing it, for the sooner the field understand 

 the Master means what he says, the sooner will 

 they attend to his wishes. Taking hounds home 

 is, however, a very serious step, and should only 

 be done under great provocation. 



In case any one so far forgets himself as to 

 insult the Master, the latter must remember that 

 he is lowering the dignity of his position by 

 bandying words with one of his field, and his 

 only course is to report the matter to the most 

 prominent member of the hunt, demanding an 

 immediate apology. 



However much the hunt may dislike the pro- 

 ceedings of their Master, they must loyally 

 support him whilst he remains in that position. 

 An M. F. H. is a king, and a king can do no 

 wrong. If he does not administer affairs accord- 

 ing to the liking of his kingdom, the hunt 

 committee must ask him politely to amend his 

 ways, or failing that to resign his crown, but 

 individual criticism is rank treason. 



We ought always to assist the Master when 

 we can, and not make his task the harder, as I 

 am afraid we often do. We should remember 



