The Field-Master and the Field. 123 



belief that he will catch them up in a few seconds. 

 By so doing they insensibly hurry him on and press 

 hounds on too, besides setting a bad example to 

 those behind — and nothing seems to be quite so in- 

 fectious as a bad example set in the hunting-field. 



Here and there may be a man who takes a keen 

 interest in hound-work or a visitor from some distant 

 pack who is anxious to study the method of hunting 

 employed in a different country from that whence he 

 comes. To such some latitude may be permitted ; 

 but they should always remember that it is of less 

 importance that their individual desires should be 

 gratified than that any risk of spoiling sport by 

 setting an example that is pretty certain to be 

 followed should be incurred. 



Again, there is generally someone in every hunt — 

 often, I regret to say, a lady — who thinks he (or 

 she) knows more about Otter-hunting than all past, 

 present, and future MM.O.H. put together. Such 

 persons can, in their own opinion, do no wrong, 

 and resent being asked to " Hold hard, please," as 

 a personal insult. They may be good supporters of 

 the hunt financially, of quite good social standing, 

 with the name of being keen sportsmen or sports- 

 women, and singly they may be doing very little 

 harm by their action. But if Mrs. So-and-so observes 

 Miss Something-or-other marching on ahead of 

 hounds, looking for spur-marks or spraints, she sees 



