94 



away and the fresher scent has a stronger appeal. 



If hounds divide it must be left to the huntsman 

 to make up his mind which is the right Une, and whatever 

 a whip may think he must concentrate on stopping the 

 division his superior considers wrong. Should he have 

 caught a view of the fox and seen that it is undoubtedly 

 the hunted one, he must still stop the lot which have 

 not gone with the huntsman and then gallop at top 

 speed to inform that functionary. 



Should a portion of the pack get away on another 

 fox and is practically beyond hearing of the horn, it is 

 the second whip's duty to stop it and return the truant 

 division to the main body with all possible speed. 

 Although it is comparatively easy to cause a check by 

 over-riding, it is sometimes very difficult to stop hounds 

 when running hard with a good scent. They know 

 quite well the fox has gone on and cannot understand 

 why they should not be allowed to continue in pursuit. 

 The usual method is to get in front of them and crack 

 a whip, but if there are five or six couples, one hound 

 wiU dodge aside, and getting on to the Hne again, will 

 soon have the others after him. It must be remembered 

 the whip has not only to stop this division, but to get 

 them to follow him afterwards. Much depends on 

 circumstances and the character of the ground, but 

 often the better plan is to ride them off the Hne and 

 then when a sufficient distance away to get to their 

 heads and with encouraging voice induce them to follow. 

 By this method they think man and horse are helping 

 them and do not reaUse they are off the hne until too 

 late to regain it. On the other hand when a horseman 

 gets directly in front of them they know he is there 

 to deprive them of their fun and will naturally try to 

 evade him. It is a matter that must be left to the 



