The Hound Puppy at Walk 183 



feeding-room one at a time, calling each by name. Some 

 one else is there to help a puppy remember what his or her 

 name is. " Barmaid, Barmaid, Barmaid ! " each time louder 

 than before, cries the kennel-huntsman. The timid puppy 

 starts, hesitates, runs back, gets a crack of the assistant's 

 lash, and in she goes. 



After a week or so each dog-puppy is coupled to a 

 thoroughly trained bitch, and vice versa, and they go out for 

 a walk, the huntsman and whippers-in going with them on 

 foot. In the course of these promenades they are taken 

 through fields in which sheep are grazing. Any tendency 

 on a puppy's part to chase these brings correction of the 

 severest nature. In olden days, if a new-entry hound per- 

 sisted at all in going after a flock of running sheep he was 

 coupled with a stout ram and dragged about the fields, or 

 had his taste for sheep butted out of him by a ram who 

 would stand his ground. After a few weeks of this exercise 

 and discipline, the coupling is removed, and the huntsman 

 and whips go out mounted. This daily exercise increases 

 in distance until time for cub-hunting. 



The life of a foxhound is generally from six to eight 

 years, four or five seasons of work in the hunting-field 

 usually finishing him. The master's heart is destined to be 

 once more saddened when the time comes to dispose of his 

 favourites because of infirmities or old age. Occasionally 

 some favourite. Bluebells for instance, is given the freedom 

 ot the place, and hangs about the stables, spending her 

 days basking in the sun or going with the master some^ 

 times when he takes a walk ; or again you may find her 

 sleeping before the boiler-room fire, and by the notes that 



