THE MASTER 121 



it is different : it is their duty to ride to hounds, 

 and if they are worth their salt, no consideration 

 of a horse slipping upon frozen ground will deter 

 them from jumping fences. Therefore the Master 

 must consider whether, in his opinion, the frost in 

 the ground constitutes an extra danger, for if one 

 of his servants is hurt, the blame must lie at his 

 door. 



Hounds' feet never ought to be considered, as 

 if they have done sufficient road-work in the 

 summer, their feet will have become hard enough 

 to withstand any frozen surface. Fog is another 

 question which often bothers the poor Master, 

 but if you can see one field clear, and there are 

 no railways in the neighbourhood, I think you 

 ought to hunt ; but don't hunt late on a foggy 

 day. 



