THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 167 



now, my brave youths, 



Stripp'd for the chase, give all your souls to joy." 



Thanks for your courtesy and patience. Look at the 

 pack ; see how they are racmg for the lead : the young 

 ones have it for pace, yet what a head they carry. How 

 they skim across the pasture lands — there is a burning 

 scent — ride over them who can! But here, in our pro- 

 vincial, the man who hunts only to ride, must and will 

 be chafed and disappointed, though he may have abund- 

 ance of fencing, and plenty of riding to hunt. It will 

 now and then happen, that we cross parts of our coun- 

 try in a manner satisfactory to the hardest Meltonian, 

 or steeple-chaser ; but I am now attempting to describe 

 a run, as it usually occurs, with neither more nor less 

 than the average proportion of disadvantages. Ride as 

 hard as you please ; ride well and boldly; ride hke men; 

 but try to ride like sportsmen. Above all, do not 

 attempt to race with, or take the lead from, the hunts- 

 man in his own line. He ought, in himself, to possess 

 the ability, and it is unpardonable in the master if he is 

 not furnished with the means, of keeping as near to his 

 hounds as he ought to be. I have known it the fashion 

 to ride at more than one huntsman who had acquired 

 such celebrity as a crack rider, that it soon became the 

 only remnant of his reputation, all the requisites of his 

 calling being merged in the comparatively superficial 

 accomplishment of " cutting down" all who came near 



