90 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



but as I have already said so much on that head in my eleventh Letter, on 

 hare-hunting, I beg leave to refer you to it. Whippers-in are frequently 

 at this time coming on with the tail hounds : they should never halloo to 

 them when the hounds are at fault : the least thing does hurt at such a 

 time, but a halloo more than any other. The huntsman, at a check, had 

 better let his hounds alone, or content himself with holding them forward, 

 without taking them off their noses. Hounds that are not used to be cast, 

 a tout bout de champ, 1 will of themselves acquire a better cast than it is in 

 the power of any huntsman to give them ; will spread more, and try better 

 for the scent ; and, if in health and spirits, will want no encouragement. 



Should they be at fault, after having made their own cast (which the 

 huntsman should always first encourage them to do), it is then his business 

 to assist them farther ; but, except in some particular instances, I never 

 approve of their being cast, as long as they are inclined to hunt. The first 

 cast I bid my huntsman make, is generally a regular one ; not choosing to 

 rely entirely on his judgment : if that should not succeed, he is then at 

 liberty to follow his own opinion, and proceed as observation and genius 

 may direct. When such a cast is made, I like to see some mark of good 

 sense and meaning in it ; whether down the wind, or towards some likely 

 cover, or strong earth : however, as it is, at best, uncertain, and as the 

 huntsman and the fox may be of different opinions, I always wish to see a 

 regular cast before I see a knowing one ; which as a last resource, should 

 not be called forth till it be wanted. The letting hounds alone is but a 

 negative goodness in a huntsman ; whereas, it is true, this last shows real 

 genius ; and, to be perfect, it must be born with him. There is a fault, 

 however, which a knowing huntsman is too apt to commit : he will find a 

 fresh fox, and then claim the merit of having recovered the hunted one. It 

 always is dangerous to throw hounds into a cover to retrieve a lost scent, 

 and, unless they hit him in, is not to be depended on. Driven to the last 

 extremity, should a knowing cast not succeed, your huntsman is in nowise 

 blameable. Mine, I remember, lost me a good chase, by persevering too 

 long in a favourite cast ; but he gave me so many good reasons why the 

 fox ought to have gone that way, that I returned perfectly well satisfied, 

 telling him at the same time, that, if the fox was a fool, he could not help it. 



Gentlemen, when hounds are at fault, are too apt themselves to pro- 

 long it : they should always stop their horses some distance behind the 

 hounds ; and, if it be possible to remain silent, this is the time to be so : 

 they should be careful not to ride before the hounds, or over the scent ; 

 nor should they ever meet a hound in the face, unless with a design to stop 

 him. Should you at any time be before the hounds, turn your horse's head 

 the way they are going, get out of their track, and let them pass by you. 



In dry weather, foxes, particularly in heathy countries, will run the 



* l At every turn. 



