70 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



distance, and then make two or three huge 

 bounds, and conceal itself in a furrow or some 

 slight shelter. 



If a sheep dog is seen coming slowly back 

 towards the place where the check has occurred, 

 it is probable that he is the culprit that is 

 responsible for the disaster, and has been run- 

 ning the fox, and an early cast should be made 

 in that direction. 



The huntsman must ever be all eyes and ears 

 during a run, keeping his attention fixed on 

 the leading hounds, but noting all signs such 

 as sheep wheeling ; or colts galloping a field 

 or two ahead (for they will often chase a fox 

 in play) ; or rooks or magpies dipping suddenly 

 down and then shooting up again (for these birds 

 love to mob a fox in the open) ; a coming check 

 may thus be anticipated, and the direction 

 indicated where a cast should be made. 



Q. Should hounds always be allowed to make 

 their own cast first ? 



A. As a rule, certainly. But if the direction 

 is clear in which the fox has gone, no time must 

 be lost in picking up the line again. This may 

 be managed by the huntsman moving his horse 

 in that direction, which will probably influence 

 the hounds to try that way, without their having 

 to be spoken to, but if necessary a cast must be 

 made without loss of time. 



Tom Smith's dictum on this point is — 



"Always allow hounds to make their own 

 cast first, and should they fail to hit it off then 

 make the doiun-ivind cast first, unless you see 

 something that has probably turned the fox." 



The reason for this is that the hounds have 



