i6o FOX-HUNTING 



are thinning them out, and you may begin to 

 cheer the pack over the rides, but get forward 

 and have a look at what you are hunting. Stand 

 quiet and watch. The cry comes nearer, there 

 is a stealthy pattering on the leaves, and the 

 next second, a fine big cub with a white tag leaps 

 lightly across. What a disappointment ! You 

 expected after an hour of incessant running to 

 see a weary cub drag himself across, and this 

 fine fellow is evidently fresh from his kennel ; 

 but wait and still watch. Close on the heels of 

 the first, and following the same track, comes 

 another cub ; but how different he looks, as with 

 bent brush and hanging tongue he steals over 

 the ride. You have noted, however, an im- 

 portant point : the fresh cub's brush is boldly 

 tipped with white, whereas the tired one has no 

 such mark. Send word to the watchers outside to 

 let hounds go when the one without a white tag 

 leaves, but to stop them from any other. Now 

 have your first whip inside with you and let 

 him watch a ride, whilst you with horn and voice 

 cheer on the pack to greater exertions. The 

 fresh cub has gone away, and the one that 

 remains behind ought to fall an easy victim ; but 



