98 TALES OF THE TURF AND THE CHASE. 



And it is this very falling which adds in some degree to its 

 popularity ; suave viari magno, it is pleasant to know that your 

 neighbour A.'s horse, which he admires so much, has given him 

 a fall at that very double over which your little animal has 

 carried you so safely ; and it is pleasant to feel yourself secure 

 from the difficulties entailed on B. by his desire to teach his four- 

 year-old how to jump according to his tastes. But apart from 

 this delight — uncharitable if you like to call it — which is felt at 

 the hazards and failures of another, there is in fox-hunting the 

 keenest possible desire to overcome satisfactorily these difficulties 

 yourself Not merely for the sake of explaining to an after- 

 dinner audience how you jumped that big place by the church 

 or led the field safely over the brook, though that element does 

 enter in ; but from the strong delight which an Englishman 

 seems by birthright to have in surmounting any obstacles which 

 are placed in his way. Put a man then on a horse, and send him 

 out hunting, and when he has had some experience ask him 

 what he has discovered of the requirements of his new pursuit, 

 and what is the lesson or influence of it. He will probably give 

 you some such answer as the following. 



The first thing that is wanted by, and therefore encouraged by, 

 fox-hunting, is decision. He who hesitates is lost. No ' craner ' 

 can get well over a country. Directly the hounds begin to run, he 

 who would follow them must decide upon his course. Will he 

 go through that gate, or attempt that big fence, which has proved 

 a stopper to the crowd ? there is no time to lose. The fence may 

 necessitate a fall, the gate must cause a loss of time, which shall 

 it be ? Or again, the hounds have come to a check, the master 

 and huntsmen are not up (in some countries a very po.ssible 

 event), and it devolves upon the only man who is with them to 

 o-ive them a cast. Where is it to be ? here or there ? There is 

 no time for thought, prompt and decided action alone succeeds. 

 Or else the loss of shoe or an unexpected fall has thrown you 

 out, and you must decide quickly in which direction you think 

 the hounds are most likely to have run. Experience, of course, 

 tells considerably here as everywhere ; but quick decision and 

 promptitude in adopting the course decided on will be the surest 

 means of attaining the wished-for result of finding yourself again 

 in company with the hounds. 



Further, fox-hunting teaches immensely self-dependence ; 

 every one is far too much occupied with his own ideas, and his 

 own difficulties, to be able to give more than the most momentary 



