t82 fox-hunting 



able to give them a view. You must take every 

 advantage you can of a fox, and keep the pack 

 as near to him as possible ; but when they are 

 running well you must use your own judgment 

 about lifting them forward. You have to take 

 into consideration the pace they are running, the 

 corner that is to be cut off, and the amount of 

 time to be thus saved. Then you have to allow 

 for a loss of time in stopping hounds when they 

 are running, and a further loss before they again 

 settle to the scent. No rule can be laid down, 

 as in every instance there will be some slight 

 difference, and the huntsman must decide the 

 point for himself. The man of moderate ability 

 and slight experience should, however, remember 

 the old proverb ' to leave well alone.' 



When a fox has been bustled along smartly 

 at any period of the run, you should never give 

 him up whilst daylight lasts, as you may be 

 certain he will stop, and if there is any scent at 

 all you may possibly hunt up to him. It is at 

 these times that hounds out of blood will not 

 persevere, and when there is a slight improve- 

 ment in scent they do not make the most of it. 

 The huntsman must then supply perseverance 



