134 FOX-HUNTING 



he always has it under perfect control. There 

 are moments when the man who hunts hounds 

 is subject to the most trying ordeals, and the 

 mildest-tempered is liable to become irritated. A 

 huntsman must under every circumstance keep 

 control over his temper, and he may be sure that 

 directly he loses it he will lose his fox. 



There is one quality it is desirable for a 

 huntsman to possess, and that is being ' doggy ' ; 

 but it is a quality born with the man and can 

 never be acquired. ' Doggy ' is the only word 

 which will properly express my meaning, and I 

 take it to be that the man has a certain sym- 

 pathetic understanding with the dog. I do not 

 wish to infer that it is impossible to become a 

 good huntsman without this quality, but the man 

 who has it will have a greater influence over his 

 hounds, and they will be quicker to perceive what 

 he requires of them. 



I have mentioned only a few of the many things 

 that refer to the conduct of a huntsman in the 

 field, and the tale is still half-told ; but it must 

 not be forgotten that his duties in the kennel 

 are even greater than those in the field. Under 

 the heading of 'The Hound' I have already 



