222 FOX-HUNTING 



keen should be, not to jump a bigger fence than 

 some one else, but always to be in the same field 

 with hounds. Experience only will teach him 

 the shortest way to get there ; but if he is ever 

 on the alert and never funks a fence, he will 

 generally find himself in the right place. You 

 will never learn to ride over a country if you 

 always follow a pilot. Choose your place in a 

 fence, ride your own line, and keep your eye 

 on the hounds. In the beginning this may bring 

 you to grief occasionally, but a few falls should 

 only serve to make a youngster keener, and hard 

 knocks will teach you more than books. 



At the covert-side, when hounds are drawing, 

 you must keep all your faculties awake, and never 

 allow yourself to be drawn into a conversation. 

 Many a run has been lost through coffee-housing 

 and not attending to what is going on. Directly 

 the fox is halloaed away, get there as quick as 

 you can, and be ready to start with hounds. I 

 do not mean that you are to gallop off directly 

 one hound is out of covert, but be on the spot 

 ready to set off. A good start is all-important, 

 and when once you get in the front rank you 

 will find it comparatively easy to keep there. 



