Fox-hunting Past and Present 



The one talks of Dorsetshire and its ungovern- 

 able woodlands, the other of Leicestershire. Now 

 for ^^the draw," ''the dash into the echoing wood 

 of stately growth," when each hound is seen, nose 

 to ground, drawing steadily on his line. The meet 

 ''when all around is gay, men, horses, dogs," the 

 squires talk county business and a groom holds 

 the stirrup for a third. The country fox-hunter 

 talks of turnips, the London one of the play. But 

 hark to Beckford again. 



" Now let your huntsman throw in his hounds as 

 quietly as possible, and the whippers-in keep wide 

 of him on each side, so that a single hound may 

 not escape ; they must be attentive to his holloa, 

 and ready to encourage or rate as he directs. 

 He will, of course, draw up the wind. 



"Now try and keep your brother-sportsmen in 

 order, and put discretion into them, then you will 

 be lucky ; they more frequently do harm than 

 good. If possible, persuade those who wish to 

 holloa the fox off to stand quiet under the covert 

 side, and on no account to holloa him too soon ; 

 if they do, he will most certainly turn back again. 

 Could you entice them all into covert, your sport, 

 in all probability, would not be the worse for it." 



" How well the hounds spread the covert ! The 



huntsman alone, and his horse, not so long ago, 



had the pack at his heels. How steadily they 



draw ! You hear not a single hound, yet not one 



94 



