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quence, their ardour carries them many yards beyond 

 where they should have turned off, when up go their 

 heads, looking for the moment rather ashamed of 

 themselves. Stand still and watch, holding up a hand 

 to check those riders who followed you into the covert. 

 The veteran who first owned the line, though carried 

 on with the others, knows exactly how far he had the 

 scent, and returning to the spot soon puts matters 

 right. This is the drag of the old dog fox, when 

 he returned from his nightly prowl about an hour 

 ago. Scent is none too good after this distance of 

 time amidst the dead leaves of the previous winter, 

 and the pack are now content to hunt steadily with 

 many pauses, but the voice of the veteran can be 

 heard putting them right each time. 



The old fox, having curled up for a comfortable 

 sleep, was awakened by the clamour, and, after 

 waiting to make certain that it was his line they were 

 hunting, he stole quietly away down wind. Now the 

 pack reach the still warm kennel, and the intermittent 

 cry grows suddenly to a full-voiced chorus. Gallop 

 on and try to keep in touch with them. The whistle 

 sounds, and you know the fox is away; but you had 

 given orders not to go away with an old fox, and the 

 crack of the whip tells you those orders are obeyed. 

 Hurry now and get to their heads, then swing round, 

 and with a cheer gallop back to the wood where you 

 fancy the cubs are lying. Hounds are sensitive 

 animals and should never be rated unless they are 

 doing wrong. It is not their fault you don't want to 

 hunt old foxes, and they should be stopped with as 

 little fuss as possible. On this occasion you are 

 fortunate, as a cub which had been lying not far from 

 his father and had been disturbed by the racket, 



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