66 SHIKAR SKETCHES. 



in every way that modern times or trustworthy 

 records wot of. 



The great fascination, if I may use such a 

 term, of the sport consists in the generous rivalry 

 that it calls forth between man and man, between 

 the closest of friends in a heart-stirring game that 

 cannot be won without nerve and manhood, as 

 well as science, being called into play, for the 

 honour consists in drawing ' first blood ' (although 

 it may be only the tiniest drop) from the hog, 

 and for this men risk their lives and limbs, their 

 money and horses, much more cheerfully than in 

 any other sport we wot of. Now, kind reader, if 

 you are a keen fox-hunter (as I, too, am) do not 

 snap me up, and say, ' Oh ! nonsense, there's 

 nothing like fox-hunting.' 



You cannot compare the two sports together. 

 To begin with, in fox-hunting you are dependent 

 on scent, and the capability of your hounds being 

 able to c speak ' to that scent. Granted the excite- 

 ment of a fast burst over a grass country, and 

 that you are well carried by your horse, and have 

 perhaps ' cut down ' or pounded most of the field, 

 the end, what is it ? a poor little fox, worried by 

 at least forty times its number (twenty couple of 

 hounds) ! Has he a chance, bar his cunning, in 

 baffling his pursuers ? No, a thousand times, no ! 

 Now how different is the chase of the wild boar of 



