70 



Given the love of sport anyone may become a huntsman 

 if he will study the subject carefully and glean knowledge 

 from observation. In the " flying " countries it is 

 necessary to be a good rider, have plenty of nerve, 

 and be ready at all times to take instant advantage of 

 an opportunity to get on better terms with a fox. A 

 love of dogs and animals is always a help to the man 

 hunting hounds, as there is then a sympathy between 

 them which it is difficult to define, but is a very important 

 factor in the co-operation of the two. 



The two worst faults a huntsman can have are con- 

 ceit and the inability to control temper. I imagine 

 all men and some women have a certain amount of 

 conceit in their composition, but it is a harmless failing 

 unless a man like the frog in the fable, allows it to swell 

 to bursting point. However long we live there is 

 always knowledge to be acquired and something to be 

 learnt, but hunting is a subject on which the last word 

 can never be said, and a lifetime's study is insufficient 

 to make the student perfect. Men of great repute in 

 the profession of hunting will admit that after many 

 years of the sport they have still much to learn, and it 

 is only lesser lights, who, giving rein to conceit allow 

 themselves to believe they know everything and in 

 consequence take a heavy fall over their ignorance. 



Temper is another matter, and every man of character 

 has probably a leaven of this smouldering fire in his 

 composition, but the control of it that makes the 

 difference between the stronger and the weaker mind. 

 A huntsman unable to control his temper is at a great 

 disadvantage, and if allowing it to surge upward to the 

 brain, the incidents of a run and its probable sequence 

 will become blotted out. The man who loses his temper 

 is pretty certain to lose his fox. 



