Cubbing Again ! 



un- entered hounds stand a better chance of getting on 

 terms with them. 



The entry of hounds into covert may put several 

 foxes afoot. If a vixen or an old dog-fox breaks covert 

 they are allowed to slip away quietly while hounds are 

 induced to concentrate on the cubs. To focus the 

 attention of hounds to one particular line is very diffi- 

 cult, sometimes well-nigh impossible. But it is the 

 huntsman's task, and he has quite enough to worry him 

 without having his efforts frustrated by interference 

 from thoughtless outsiders. 



He may have spent the best part of his morning 

 endeavouring to hold his pack to the line of one particular 

 cub. Other foxes, old and young, may have complicated 

 matters, but he has used all the artifices known to a 

 good huntsman, and doggedly followed every twist and 

 turn of a now- tiring cub. The complicated line is 

 beginning to straighten out. The cub is realising the 

 futility of using dodging tactics. He is running straight 

 at last. 



The volume of hound-music increases; no longer 

 does it come in intermittent bursts as when hounds were 

 compelled to unravel the line yard by yard. They are 

 driving their quarry before them. Their hackles are 

 up ; puppies are behaving like veterans, racing jealously 

 with the old hounds, the cry is reaching a crashing 

 crescendo. The cub is going to break ! . . . and the 

 huntsman knows that no tiring cub could last for five 

 minutes across country with hounds going so well. 



By the tone of his voice, as he encourages his hounds, 

 one can gather how delighted he is with his morning's 



177 



