A First Flight Position 



distinguish the smell of a fox in such a conglomeration 

 of odours calls for intense concentration. 



The most brilliant pack in the world cannot concen- 

 trate if they are terrified of being mangled by thoughtless 

 first flighters. Let us imagine a staff in a big city office, 

 with every member working at high pressure in an 

 endeavour to have the yearly balance completed to 

 schedule. Every member is engrossed in his or her 

 task, when suddenly an air raid interrupts their work. 

 They race for safety. They are not going to wait until 

 the walls of the office thunder down upon them. The 

 balance is forgotten. In the same way, hounds who 

 have come to realise the danger impending are forced 

 to relinquish their task. As the thundering hooves 

 press closer, hounds that have been hunting perfectly 

 forsake the line of their fox for that of safety. They 

 have been taught always to behave as units of a whole, 

 and they run on together. By the time an over-wrought 

 Master swears his field into submission the harm has 

 been done, and an otherwise excellent hunt has been 

 spoilt. 



It is noticeable that all this annoyance takes place in 

 the beginning and thereby brings about the end of a 

 good run. In a big woodland, if hounds can slip their 

 field, or if wire or a swollen river delays molestation, 

 there is usually precious little interference with them at 

 the end of six or seven gruelling miles. 



To attain a reputation of being in the first flight is 

 a worthy ambition. That reputation is earned at the 

 Kill not at the Gone- Away. At the start of a run, 

 horses and many riders are crazy to race madly away. 



29 



