38 FOX-HUNTING 



and the hare-hound may stop to enjoy it. The 

 pottering hound should be hung at once. Dash 

 and drive, however, are virtues that, without 

 being tempered with a keen sense of smell, 

 will degenerate into flash, which is a deadly sin. 

 In the same way goodness of nose may develop 

 into dwelling on the line, unless it is combined 

 with drive. There are very few packs nowadays 

 that would keep a hound with any glaring fault, 

 and still less that would breed from one, so that 

 in starting a pack there should be no difficulty 

 in getting hold of a good foundation. Let us 

 imagine you are a young man who has just 

 taken a country, and has to find a pack ; you 

 know nothing of hounds, but are desperately 

 keen. You might be fortunate enough to buy 

 a whole pack that came into the market at the 

 moment you wanted it, or you might have to 

 take over the hounds of your predecessor, and 

 in either case you would have something to go 

 on hunting with. With these you might be 

 able to show good sport, if in good condition 

 and under proper control, but you will not rest 

 satisfied with a moderate pack. Never buy any 

 drafts except those that are unentered, for you 



