36 



to catch foxes." Others who may know less about 

 it are inclined to be critical, and, having been accus- 

 tomed to see fat hounds at this period of the year, 

 think because they can discern ribs novv^ that the 

 pack v/ill be skeletons before the end of the season. 

 The less a man knows about hunting, the more 

 emphatic he is in his opinions, and the readier at all 

 times to lay down the law on any point affecting the 

 sport. By this remark, I lay myself open to be 

 classed amongst the ignorant, for am I not laying 

 down the law? 



After this digression, we will return to the meet, 

 where, a few minutes beyond the time fixed, you move 

 off to draw the covert — a wood of about forty acres. 

 There are some good rides, and a portion having been 

 cut down the previous year, is now a tangled mass 

 of undergrowth, interlaced with blackberry briars 

 that will be a formidable barrier to hounds in pursuing 

 cubs. 



Approaching the road from the up-v/ind side — you 

 don't want to catch an old fox asleep — preceded by 

 your first whip, you pause a moment to give final 

 instructions, and then, with an " eleu-in," the older 

 hounds will make a dash for the covert. The young 

 ones will know by the manner of their elders they are 

 in quest of something, without knowing what it is, 

 but you will do well to persuade all to enter the under- 

 growth. It was your intention to go straight to the 

 cut-down portion, but before you can reach it an old 

 hound comes dashing into the ride, and the next 

 moment he is throwing his tongue — a call that speedily 

 brings the others to his aid. Your pack, in the 

 exuberant spirits of good health and condition, drive 

 down the ride as if a fox was in view, and, in conse- 



