The Field-Master and the Field. I39 



the various points of conduct laid down in this 

 chapter he will be doing all that is expected of him. 

 In enlightening the ignorance or correcting the in- 

 advertence of the Field he will have to be skilful in 

 combining suaviter with fortiter. He must neces- 

 sarily, without being in the smallest degree snobbish, 

 distinguish between the various classes and indi- 

 viduals represented in the Field. The "■ gentle 

 lady " who is doing wrong through innocence of 

 what is right must be dealt with very differently 

 from the poacher or the discharged labourer who 

 is taking an opportunity of surreptitiously damag- 

 ing the property of his late employer under colour 

 of following the sport. 



In order to be on the safe side the Field- Master 

 should know every member of his Field by sight, 

 name, and reputation : a counsel of perfection, it is 

 to be feared. When he has to deal with an unruly 

 crowd in no way connected with the water being 

 hunted, who are getting their sport — and various 

 unconsidered trifles in the way of rabbits, moorhens, 

 mushrooms, ferns, or " gibby-sticks " — for nothing, 

 and who will do little to help, but many things 

 to hinder, the Master and the hounds from showing 

 sport to those who have paid to see it, he will have 

 to take up a very strong position. If they will not 

 obey his behests and will not desist from following 

 hounds when he orders them off, he must report the 



