PACE 



CHAPTER IX 



IN order to bring a fox to hand, hounds must 

 press him at some period of the run. It 

 is the pace, coupled with the superior con- 

 dition of the hounds, that kills. 



I have heard it stated that a wild animal which 

 has to w^ork for its food, will always be in better 

 condition than another — such as a hound — which 

 has food brought to it. With this statement 

 I must beg to disagree. Take for instance a 

 carted deer, which is hand-fed on hard feed, and 

 a wild stag which feeds himself. Which of them 

 will be in the better condition ? and by condition 

 I mean fitness to stand up before hounds. I 

 think anyone with experience of both forms of 

 stag hunting, will agree with me when I plump 

 for the hand-fed deer. Hounds are fed at regular 

 intervals, usually early on the morning of the day 

 before hunting. The huntsman knows the 

 appetites of individual hounds, and feeds accord- 

 ingly. By this means the pack is kept in good and 

 level condition. When hounds arrive at the 

 meeting place, they have thoroughly digested 

 their food, and have got rid of all waste matter ; 

 thus they are in the best of running order. Also, 

 prior to the commencement of the season, they 

 have been put through a course of slow and fast 

 exercise, that has hardened their muscles and 

 feet, and strengthened their wind. 



91 



