48 WIND IS STRENGTH. 



get to run) cunning ; and if he knew a fox's point, 

 with his weight it was quite fair in him to avail himself 

 of that knowledge, and ride a little wide of hounds ; 

 and if by this he could, as he did often, save his horse 

 a field or two, some heavy fencing, and heavy ground, 

 he was right : for when I say I consider the men who 

 go straightest with hounds on an average distress 

 their horse the least, I only mean it to apply to fen- 

 cing, and in comparison with those who lose time in 

 going round to avoid leaps they may not like. Go 

 straight for ever ; that is, do not go round : but if, 

 without losing anything of the sight of the hunting, 

 you can save distance, I see nothing unsportsmanlike 

 in doing so even for a light weight, for he may be too 

 heavy before he has done. So I say, Go like a good 

 'un as long as you can : I do not of course mean till 

 your nag is regularly sewed up, without an effort to 

 save him : I mean, go as long as the bellows last ; in 

 short, till they begin to squeak ; but we must not 

 burst a hole in the leather, or what the deuce shall we 

 do to light the fire again ? Wind is strength ; and the 

 want of it pro tern, prostrates the powers of the prou- 

 dest and the best. The cob, that most beastly of 

 locomotive conveyances for any thing but a sack of 

 grain, would beat Bee's- wing if the puff was taken out 

 of her. Light weights, remember this, and be not 

 surprised when at times you find even 20st. giving 

 you the " go by." While the wind lasts, weight does 

 not make so great a difference in pace (I mean hun- 

 ting pace) as people may suppose. I believe it has 

 been pretty well ascertained that the difference 

 between the pace in a charge of our household 

 troops or that of the 7th Hussars is very trifling 

 indeed ; but make that charge a mile, weight would 



