160 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



The old grey horse was a standing joke against him for 

 many a long day after, and a horse-laugh was Joe's 

 abomination. 



At particular seasons of the year, also, sundry little 

 urchins are employed in the " al fresco'" amusement of 

 bird-keeping, and, having little else to do, they spend 

 their time in trying who can halloo the loudest. At such 

 periods it is a ticklish affair going to halloos. This is but 

 a poor resource, after all that can be said in its favour, 

 and a huntsman had much better trust to his hounds' 

 noses first, his own talents afterwards when the hounds 

 fail, and when all these have been fairly tried, he may 

 try what dependance can be placed on a halloo — or try 

 for a fresh fox, which is his dernier ressort. 



When a fox has been pressed at starting, and has given 

 you a good run, my plan is never to give him up as long 

 as the hounds can own the scent ; ten to one but that he 

 will loiter somewhere, and if you can only once get upon 

 better terms with him, you may be tolerably sure he will 

 come to hand ; and I always derived more satisfaction 

 in witnessing the hounds working through difficulties and 

 gradually improving upon the scent, than in a burst of 30 

 or 40 minutes, with a who-whoop at the end. Any lot 

 of curs, with a burning scent, may race a fox to death, 

 but it requires a good pack of hounds to catch a good old 

 warrior, who can hold on for an hour and a half. To 

 beat such a one foxhounds must not only run hard, but 

 hunt as well, and persevere in their work ; and there is 

 great satisfaction, as well as great merit, in finishing him 

 off" handsomely at last. 



I may here relate one instance out of many in which 

 my perseverance through difficulties was crowned with 



