CHAPTER X. 



THE WHIPPERS-IN. 



For certain reasons the men who whip -in to a 

 pack of Otter-hounds will for the most part be 

 amateurs and subscribing members of the hunt who 

 perform the duties for the love of the thing. In 

 the first place, more whippers-in are required in 

 Otter-hunting than in other forms of the chase, no 

 fewer than four being necessary under some circum- 

 stances and if they know their work : if not, they 

 were better absent. In the second place, the funds 

 available rarely allow of the employment of more 

 than one paid hand in the field, who is also the 

 kennelman when at home. 



The Master or the Committee will choose them for 

 two principal reasons — keenness and obedience to 

 orders. A slack whipper-in who spends his time 

 when hounds are on a drag in flirting with the lady 

 members should be deposed ; a whipper-in who exer- 

 cises any judgment at variance with that delivered 

 (rightly or wrongly) by the Master should be 

 awarded unlimited " cells." 



