436 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



Let cavillers deny 



That brutes have reason ; sure 'tis something more ; 

 'Tis heav'n directs and stratagems inspire. 

 Beyond the short extent of human thought. 



" She frequently after running a path a considerable 

 way, will make a double, and then stop till the hounds 

 have passed her ; she will then steal away as secretly 

 as she can, and return the same way she came. This is 

 the greatest of all trials for hounds : it is so hot a foil, 

 that in the best packs there are not many hounds that 

 can hunt it : you must follow those hounds that can, 

 and try to hit her off where she breaks her foil, which 

 in all probability she will soon do, as she now flatters 

 herself she is secure. When the scent lies bad in 

 cover, she will sometimes hunt the hounds. 



The covert's utmost bound 



Shly she skirts ; beyond them cautious creeps, 

 And in that very track, so lately strain'd 

 By all the steaming crowd, seems to pursue 

 The foe she flies. 



" When the hounds are at a check, make your 

 huntsman stand still, nor suffer him to move his horse 

 one way or the other : hounds lean naturally towards 

 the scent, and if he does not say a word to them, will 

 soon recover it. 



" In a fine day, good hounds seldom give up the 

 scent at head ; if they do, there is generally an obvious 

 reason for it: this observation a huntsman should 

 always make ; it will direct his cast. If he be a good 

 one, he will be attentive as he goes, not only to his 

 hounds, nicely observing which have the lead .and the 

 degree of scent they carry ; but also to the various 

 circumstances that are continually happening from 

 change of weather and difference of ground. He will 

 also be mindful of the distance which the hare keeps 



