Mr. Wardes Hounds. 95 



a degree which I never saw equalled, or approached 

 by any other pack. Probably this arose partly from 

 the nature of the animal (large foxhounds being, I 

 think, generally less inclined to riot than small ones) ; 

 partly by the fact, that the country which they hunted 

 was very full both of hare and deer, so that the hounds 

 were accustomed to them ; partly by the abundance 

 of foxes, and the great number that they killed in cub- 

 hunting. Certainly, by the time that regular hunting 

 began, there was scarcely a puppy who could not be 

 trusted when he spoke ; and a rate was very seldom 

 heard. Consequently, the confidence which the hunts- 

 man placed in his hounds was implicit, and was of 

 great service on critical occasions. If, when they were 

 picking out a cold scent in Savernake Forest, some 

 well-meaning man took upon himself to warn the 

 huntsman that he had seen a hare or a deer go along 

 that way, the answer would be, * Well, sir, I cannot 

 help that; my hounds must hunt their fox, whatever else 

 may have gone along the same way.' I once received 

 a lesson on that point. We were drawing Bedwin 

 Brail, when I saw a hare come into a ride, and ob- 

 served a hound, called Dowager, rushing through the 

 bushes after her, but without giving tongue. I thought- 

 lessly cried out, * Ware hare ! ' a sound of which the 

 huntsman did not approve : so he immediately cor- 

 rected me, saying, ^ Don't rate her, sir ; she is doing 

 no harm, poor thing ; she only wants to get a look at 

 it to see what it is.' And, sure enough, as soon as 

 Dowager got into the ride, and saw the hare scudding 

 away, she turned quietly back to draw for a fox. I 

 should observe, however, that in drawing preserves 

 these hounds contrived to chop and eat a considerable 



