RIDING TO FOX-HOUNDS. 197 



But do not therefore despair. Pull yourself well 

 together, no less than your horse. Keep steadily on at 

 a regulated pace, watching the movements of those who 

 are with the hounds, and ride inside them, every bend. 

 No fox goes perfectly straight he must turn sooner or 

 later and when the happy moment arrives be ready to 

 back your luck, and pounce ! But here, again, I would 

 have your valour tempered with discretion. If your 

 horse does not see the hounds, be careful how you ride 

 him at such large places as he would face freely enough 

 in the excitement of their company. Not one hunter in- 

 fifty is really fond of jumping, and we hardly give them 

 sufficient credit for the good-humour with which they 

 accept it as a necessity for enjoyment of the sport. 

 Avoid water especially, unless you have reason to believe 

 the bottom is good, and you can go in and out. Even 

 under such favourable conditions, look well to your 

 egress. There is never much difficulty about the 

 entrance, and do not forget that the middle is often the 

 shallowest, and always the soundest part of a brook. 

 When tempted therefore to take a horse, that you know 

 is a bad water-jumper, at this serious obstacle, you are 

 most likely to succeed, if you only ask him to jump 

 half-way. Should he drop his hind-legs under the 

 farther bank, he will probably not obtain foothold to 



