260 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



every one found after the 1st of November, and the earth 

 stopping as well; but this w^as in a country almost 

 deficient in proprietors as hunting men ; in fact, the 

 keepers were masters, and, unless well paid, there would 

 have been no foxes at all. These expenses were borne 

 by the unhappy master, as part and parcel of his hunting 

 establishment. 



In my own country we had once a very unfriendly 

 neighbour to foxes ; in his coverts we scarcely ever found 

 a specimen of the vulpine genus, the vestigia nulla 

 retrorsum being rigidly exemplified. Upon the departure 

 of this game preserver a genuine sportsman succeeded, 

 who knew very well the tricks and lies of gamekeepers. 

 I called upon him with a request that I might still be 

 permitted to draw the coverts, and that he would not 

 allow his keepers to destroy the foxes, which I assured 

 him T was well aware had been the case with his prede- 

 cessor. His reply was both courteous and to the point: — 

 " You are most welcome to draw my coverts as often as 

 you think proper — once a week if you like, and it is my 

 business, as a true sportsman, to provide foxes. ^* On the 

 following day he sent for the keepers ; his address to 

 them was laconic enough : " Whenever the foxhounds 

 draw my coverts they will find foxes, or all of you will 

 find fresh places." One of the old fox -killers. Venturing 

 to remonstrate at this peremptory mandate, and asking 

 how foxes were to be found if there were none there, 

 was cut short with this rejoinder : " Where they come 

 from is no concern of mine, but here they shall be, or 

 you shall not." 



We never drew those coverts afterwards^ even if we 

 went there sometimes once a week, without finding a fox. 



