122 Otters and Otter-Hunting. 



towards securing good and useful Fields, so im- 

 portant to the enjoyment of sport. 



Five minutes is quite enough law to allow, 

 especially in these days of lazy habits and late 

 meets, when the dew is rapidly vanishing under the 

 hot beams of the summer sun and every moment is 

 of importance if a useful drag is to be obtained. 

 There will be plenty of time for " coffee-housing " 

 on the way up-stream ; and each arrival having 

 saluted his host with a " Good morning. Master," 

 and lifted cap, the Master will move off with a 

 single note on the horn to show that the business of 

 the chase has begun, and cast hounds off at the 

 nearest point. 



The Field will fall in behind the hunt officials, 

 and if both banks of the stream are practicable for 

 foot-passengers, some will go on one bank and the 

 rest remain on the other. They will regulate their 

 pace to that of the hounds, remembering that no one 

 except the forward whippers-in on either bank must 

 be ahead of hounds drawing, that the Master will 

 be with or just behind hounds, and that no follower 

 should be close behind the Master (whom I am still 

 picturing as huntsman also), much less in front of 

 him, unless, of course, the Master has expressly in- 

 vited him or her to walk along with him. Whenever 

 the Master stops the whole Field should stand still, 

 not go sauntering ahead of him in the confident 



