THE RIDING 223 



You must not ride directly behind hounds, but 

 be on either flank, and not too wide ; then, if you 

 always have your eye on the leading hound, you 

 will be able to pull up in time if the fox has 

 turned short. Experience will soon teach you 

 to distinguish when a hound has the scent and 

 when it is only drive that is taking him forward. 

 Nothing upsets a pack more than riding close 

 behind them ; it is not only that you may press 

 them yards beyond the scent at a turn, but the 

 mere fact of horses galloping in their wake seems 

 to distract their attention from the business of 

 hunting. 



When hounds come to a check, pull up at 

 once, and don't walk on because you see them 

 feeling for the line, but above all never talk. 

 There should be dead silence at a check, but 

 I am sorry to say it is generally the moment 

 chosen for a buzz of conversation. 



I am not one of those who think that women 

 are in the way out hunting, and in my experience 

 I have always considered they do much less harm 

 than the men, but the time when they do sin is 

 at a check. They not only then talk themselves, 

 but they encourage men to talk as well, and I 



