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worse, is the day when hounds with a catchy sort of 

 scent race across one field and throw up their heads, a pro- 

 ceeding they continue to repeat at intervals . The pace for 

 those few seconds is usually sufficient to stir the blood of 

 youth and the consequence is a mad rush, which will 

 drive the pack many yards beyond where it last touched 

 the scent. These are the most trjdng days a huntsman 

 has to endure, and as the master can only be in one place 

 at once it is very difficult to restrain a big field that is 

 bursting with the desire to gallop. 



The really slow hunt, when hounds show no signs of 

 getting up any speed, and with their heads down have 

 to work out every yard of the fine, does not breed the 

 same excitement, and the field are more easily controlled. 

 The master of a fashionable pack has a very hard task 

 in keeping order and the performance of his duties fre- 

 quently spoils his own pleasure in the sport. We 

 ought to remember this and be ready at any time to 

 obey unquestionably any command he may give. He is 

 there to show us sport, and we should do all in our power 

 to make his labours as fight as possible. " Hold hard " 

 should be the signal to halt and stand still, not just slow 

 up and walk on. Masters are only human and therefore 

 Hable fike other people to err occasionally, but whether 

 it be right or wrong, no one should ever dispute or argue 

 about an order given by the man in authority. In the 

 heat of the moment, a master — his temper is oft-times 

 sorely tried — may address you in very strong language, 

 which you would resent from any other individual, but 

 however much you disfike being sworn at, you must 

 never utter a word in reply. You might get the blame 

 for an offence of which you were innocent, but even 

 then you should still keep your mouth shut and take your 

 gruelling as if you deserved it. There would be no 



