156 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



tlie field have behaved well, and like sportsmen, as they 

 always will, with a little tact and management ; he has 

 not been headed ; he has broken between the gateway, to 

 which the whipper-in has ridden, and the oj^posite corner, 

 where the horn of the master gives assurance that he is 

 fairly away. It is a signal as well known to the hounds 

 as to the huntsman ; they fly to a note never heard but 

 for especial purposes ; one by which they never were de- 

 ceived or disappointed. The second whipper-in and 

 huntsman cheer them on to the edge of the covert, with, 

 "forward, hark! forward, hark ! forward, away, away !" (I 

 cannot attempt to decipher the intonation of different 

 huntsmen, for to me there is nothing so unintelligible or 

 difficult of construction as bad English, whether in 

 phrases or whole sentences) ; but there is no useless 

 repetition of view halloos without ; both whipper-in 

 and master saw him break at the same instant ; in 

 neither did a muscle move till he had almost cleared the 

 field between his home and the lane which he has 

 crossed beyond : then, hearing the echoing thunder of 

 his enemies, as quickly as follows the peal upon the 

 lightning's flash, a sign of intelligence passes between 

 them, after one flourish of the horn, as much as to say, 

 " That will do, they cannot be coming better or quicker 

 after him."'*' And now, indeed, they come ; what a 



* I have commended silence upon such an occasion, but not as an in- 

 variable rule. If hounds had been heard to dwell upon a doubtful scent, 

 or turn, the whipper-in would have been instantly back in covert to 

 carry them on ; but when they are coming on as well as they can, it is 

 notoriously best to check impatience ; leave them alone— do not get 

 their heads up ; they will bring it out, take it up, and carry it Avith them, 

 twice as well, and quicker, by themselves. 



