THE HUNTSMAN 



45 



is a discretion, however, in all this, which shows the 

 man with the head from the man without. Tom 

 Babbleton would tell all the country that they merely 

 took the hounds out for show, while Sir Rasper 

 Smashgate, or old Peter Pigskin, would acknowledge 

 the propriety of the step and go home at once. Few 

 sportsmen like to leave hounds while a chance of 

 sport remains. Here is another hint. "When a 

 Huntsman is requested to draw for a second fox late 

 in the day, it would be fair to say, ' Gentlemen, we 

 have had work lately, and have some distance home ; 

 but if I do find, will you promise not to leave me till 

 it is finished ? ' " Some men are very inconsiderate 

 and unreasonable, never thinking hounds, horses, or 

 men can do too much when they happen to be out, 

 especially if the draw they recommend is in their way 

 home. 



But to the qualifications of a Huntsman : — 

 Beckford said " he was not very ambitious of having 

 a famous Huntsman, unless it necessarily followed 

 that he must have famous hounds ; a conclusion," 

 writes he, "I cannot admit as long as these so 

 famous gentlemen will be continually attempting 

 themselves to do what would be much better done 

 if left to their hounds; besides, they seldom are 

 good servants, are always conceited, and sometimes 

 impertinent. I am very well satisfied if my Hunts- 

 man be acquainted with his country and his hounds, 

 if he ride well up to them, and if he have some 

 knowledge of the nature of the animal which he is 

 in pursuit of; but so far am I from wishing him to 

 be famous, that I hope he will continue to think his 

 hounds know best how to hunt a fox." 



If we were hiring a Huntsman, we should like him 

 to be bred in the hunting line. We cannot fancy a 

 house-painter's or cobbler's son assuming the saddle 

 and horn, and setting up as Huntsman. Doubtless 

 there are fellows who have impudence enough to set 



