HUNTING 69 



then to stop and look up in the huntsman's 

 face to see what they are to do ; but the moment 

 there are enough to lay on the scent the horse 

 should be turned in the direction of the line. 

 In a small covert where the hounds should be 

 quickly all out the horse should be turned in the 

 right direction at once, when the first hounds 

 will fling for the scent without dwelling, and 

 commence to run immediately. 



Q. Is it necessary to wait till all the hounds 

 are out before they are laid on the line ? 



A. This would be carrying the principle too 

 far, for it must be remembered always that a fox 

 is a quick travelling animal, and that the scent 

 necessarily soon gets weak, so that every second 

 lost means diminished scent. There is no time 

 to wait, therefore, for the laggards of the pack, 

 and it is sufficient to stop only the first comers 

 until the main body joins them, when not a 

 second should be lost in laying them on the line. 

 If the main body are running another fox hard in 

 covert, it is better to turn back and throw those 

 in again who have already come out to the horn, 

 to join the others. 



Q. What usually causes a check, when 

 running ? 



A. Either the fox has got too far in front, 

 and the scent fails ; or else it has been turned 

 from its line by being headed by some one, or 

 something ; or it has been coursed by a wandering 

 dog ; or the line has been foiled by sheep, or 

 cattle. 



When hunting with harriers a check is 

 frequently caused by the sagacity of the hare, 

 which will often retrace its steps for a long 



