THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



master of hounds, on whose veracity I can depend. He lost 

 his fox at eleven o'clock, a.m. At two o'clock, p.m., he passed 

 the place on his road home, and was told that his fox had 

 passed a certain (^^ateway. 



"'Impossible,' said his huntsman, "for we tried that point." 



' " I saw him," said a man at plough. 



' " And so did I," added his fellow-servant. 



' Sure enough the scent was there, and spoken to by half the 

 pack, although too weak to carry on the chase beyond the 

 next field. After this, who can speculate on the certainty or 

 uncertainty of scent ? 



' As regards the strength of your establishment, it may be 

 considered presumptuous my dictating to you on that point ; 

 but let me recommend you to have an eye to moderation in 

 your kennel and stable. I consider four days a week as much 

 as Siny man should hunt hounds, and it is also the best 

 arrangement as regards his kennel, inasmuch as he then 

 divides it into packs which, for the most part, work together. 

 By thus becoming acquainted with each other, they work 

 steadier and better, and occasion the death instead of the loss 

 of many a stout fox. Seventy couples of good working hounds 

 will suffice ; and, unless some unforeseen, untoward circum- 

 stances arise, you will never have occasion to add to this 

 amount. Of horses I would allow you quite a full complement ; 

 first, on the score of your country, which requires a strong 

 stable ; secondly, because it also req aires that things should be 

 done in a first-rate style. I should say, then, that you should 

 have fourteen horses for your own riding, and twelve for the 

 use of your whippers-in. Let the latter be horses of power, 

 but with sufficient breeding for your country ; strong horses not 

 only last longer than slight ones, but they are not so liable to 

 being lamed at fences by the superior strength of their muscles, 

 and the firmer texture of their skin. As to the mixture or 

 separation of the sexes of the hounds in the field, there are so 

 many opinions on the subject, that I scarcely like to hazard 

 mine. There is an objection against all bitches in the pack in 

 a woodland country, in the inferior powder of their tono-ues ; 

 but that will not operate witli you ; and it is contended that, 

 although quicker and readier in their work than dog hounds, 

 they are not so patient in difficulties. The safer plan, then, 

 may be to mix the sexes in the field. This will about balance 



899 



