LETTER XVIII. 197 



the consequence, and it took me some little time to get 

 the sand out of my eyes ; that's all." " And enough 

 too, for once ; your own mother wouldn't know you." 

 ** But Where's the fox, Bob ?" " There," pointing to the 

 hounds. " Come, none of your nonsense ; I won't have 

 that." " Well, then, you shall have this, if you are a 

 good boy," holding up the brush. 



In the check which occurred will be seen the necessity 

 for leaving hounds alone when, with a burning scent, 

 they are suddenly brought to a stand. In nine cases 

 out of ten, the fox is then behind them. In this instance 

 the hounds knew he was not forward, and by their looks 

 and manner I was at once decided that he was close to 

 them somewhere. Had a wild huntsman at that time 

 come up, and taken the hounds away to make a cast, 

 nothing more, in all probability, would have been heard 

 or seen of this fox. A good pack of hounds will not 

 throw up as long as the scent is before them, but will be 

 trying on, even should difficulties be in their way. My 

 friend Bob used to remark of a fast huntsman, who 

 hunted a neighbouring country to ours, "First came the 

 fox, then the huntsman, and after him the hounds.'* 

 This system prevails rather too much in the present day, 

 and the hounds, instead of playing first fiddle, are con- 

 sidered worthy only to take a subordinate part. 



It is highly desirable for a huntsman to be so well 

 acquainted with his country as to know the run of a fox ; 

 but as long as his hounds can carry on the scent, he has 

 no right to interfere, except in particular cases. In my 

 palmy days, when I was generally in at the death, I never 

 allowed a fox to be taken from the hounds. The farce 

 of treeing was never resorted to. I think it made the 



