THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 51 



subsequent apology of his cheer, and they follow him 

 like boys 



" Creeping like snail unwillingly to school :" 



but it is well if the guard can drive the mail, should the 

 coachman be disabled on the journey ; and, in the event 

 of any accident to the huntsman, the first whipper-in 

 should be capable of hunting them upon scientific prin- 

 ciples ; to enable him to do which, he must be born with 

 a head upon his shoulders. His knowledge of all locali- 

 ties, his acquaintance with all earths, coverts, their 

 relative distances, and everything else belonging to 

 knowledge of country, can, perhaps, be, if anything, 

 less dispensed with in him than in a huntsman. His 

 place, in line of march, is at the head, the huntsman 

 in the centre, and the second whipper-in in the rear of 

 the pack. He should know the shortest and best way 

 for hounds to every part of the country, from any 

 given spot. Having said that he is, eventually, himself 

 to become a huntsman, it is needless to make any repe- 

 tition of requisites enumerated as essentials in the last 

 chapter. His temper will be equally called upon. He 

 must never sulk, nor hesitate in obedience to any com- 

 mand received from the huntsman appointed over him, 

 who is answerable for all proceedings, right or wrong. 

 Towards hounds he must temper a firmness of resolu- 

 tion in the vigorous execution of his office, with mode- 

 ration, remembering that *' there is reason in roasting 

 of eggs ;" and he is not to add to the punishment of 



4—2 



