HUNTING THE FOX 229 



line in the open, and this is not uncommon in grass 

 countries where there are many foxes. After hounds 

 have been running about for some time, the whole 

 country seems alive with foxes and changes are 

 frequent. 



Huntsmen do not always acknowledge these 

 changes, but they are an important element in the 

 chase, and increase the fox's chance of escape very 

 greatly. ' That is not your hunted fox,' said a 

 sportsman to an old huntsman whose hounds had 

 killed a fox. ' Perhaps it may not be,' was the reply, 

 ' but if I handles him it's much the same.' It is 

 indeed a very high standard of skill that can make 

 reasonably sure of killing the fox that was found. But 

 the great aim of a huntsman is to show sport, with 

 an eager crowd behind him he must do what he can, 

 and that is often to cast forward and pick up another. 

 But supposing the fox finds no substitute, even if 

 there be no actual pressure there are relaxations. 

 Everyone who has been lucky enough to ride close 

 to the pack knows how often he is able to pull back 

 to a canter or a trot. The man behind, of course, 

 knows nothing of this ; he must keep on galloping, 

 but the fox and hounds have many a moment to take 

 breath of which the ordinary pursuer knows nothing. 

 Something of this kind happens : Let us suppose it 



