IRISH HUNTERS. 157 



should they prove impracticable ; and the faculty of 

 "jumping at short notice," on this consideration alone, 

 I conceive to be one of the choicest qualities a hunter 

 can possess. Also, even in the most favoured and 

 flying of the " grass countries," many fences require 

 unusual steadiness and circumspection. If they are 

 to be done at all, they can only be accomplished by 

 creeping, sometimes even climbing to the wished-for 

 side. The front rank itself will probably shirk these 

 unaccustomed obstacles with cordial unanimity, leaving 

 them to be triumphantly disposed of by your new 

 purchase from Kildare. He pokes out his nose, as 

 if to inspect the depth of a possible interment, and 

 it is wise to let him manage it all his own way. You 

 give him his head, and the slightest possible kick in 

 the ribs. With a cringe of his powerful back and 

 quarters, a vigorous lift that seems to reach two-thirds 

 of the required distance, a second spring, apparently 

 taken from a twig weak enough to bend under a bird, 

 that covers the remainder, a scramble for foothold, 

 a half stride and a snort of satisfaction, the whole is 

 disposed of, and you are alone with the hounds. 



Though, under such circumstances, these seem pretty 

 sure to run to ground or otherwise disappoint you 

 within half-a-mile, none the less credit is due to 



