THE BLOODHOUND. 



143 



a deputation arrived from the insurgents 

 begging for mercy, and soon after between 

 two and three hundred of them surren- 

 dered, on no other condition than a promise 

 of their lives. 



" It is pleasing to observe," remarks 

 the historian, " that after the dogs arrived 

 in the island not a drop of blood was spilt." 



Coming again to this country, we find 

 the Bloodhound used from time to time 

 in pursuit of poachers and criminals, and 



prisons has been offered a working hound 

 for nothing, the authorities have refused 

 to consider the question or give the hound 

 a trial. 



The following account of the Bloodhound 

 trials held in the district of West Wycombe, 

 written by the late Mr. G. R. Krehl, editor 

 of The Illustrated Kennel News, gives one 

 a good idea of such a meeting : — 



" It was a foggy morning, but about 10.30 

 o'clock the fog lifted, and the runner went to 



BLAZER RUNNING DOWN HIS QUARRY IN A 

 TRIAL OF TRACKING ON A THREE-MILE SCENT. 



in many instances the game recovered 

 and the man arrested. 



Unfortunately, in country districts one 

 often finds a great deal of prejudice exist- 

 ing against the Bloodhound. To the writer's 

 personal knowledge, in one Sussex village 

 the yokels firmly believe that Bloodhounds 

 would attack, probably devour, any chil- 

 dren that came in their way, and that once 

 having smelt blood they were no more 

 to be trusted than an escaped tiger. One 

 owner, during his first six months' resi- 

 dence, had continually to be on the look- 

 out for poisoned meat. Perhaps it is only 

 fair to say that this myth was not con- 

 tradicted but encouraged by a large circle 

 of poachers living in the neighbourhood. 



There is no doubt that the police in 

 country districts, and at our convict prisons, 

 could use Bloodhounds to advantage ; but 

 public sentiment is decidedly against the 

 idea, and although one of his Majesty's 



lay the first trail. Almost the entire line could 

 be followed without the use of glasses. It was 

 an ideal course on the far side of Radnage 

 Valley, and from a 140-acre field most of the 

 run could be seen without leaving the farm 

 wagon, which formed a good grand stand. 

 According to the conditions of the trials, a line 

 of three miles on scent at least an hour cold 

 had to be run, and the hounds were hunted 

 singly, Mrs. Litkie. winning the toss, electing 

 to run Rufus first. By this time the sun was 

 high, and it was blazing hot ; and, as there was 

 no shade on the side of the valley selected for 

 the run, scent was not expected to be very 

 good. Collett worked the hound, Mr. Edgar 

 Farman (mounted) following as judge. For a 

 start Rufus cast very prettily, and, having 

 gained the line, gave tongue and went up the 

 hill at a fair pace. Gibbs, it ought to be ex- 

 plained, had mapped out the course with flags, 

 so that we could see how the line was kept to. 

 Halfway up the line the hound was at fault, 

 but only momentarily, and, casting rather 

 wide, he was speedily on terms again, and went 



