144 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



Enjojcable duties of himtsmen — Intellect and physical al^ilities re- 

 quisite — First-rate horsemen — Heavy Te7'siis light weights — Power 

 in the saddle — Honesty and sobriety — Good temper — The whip 

 too much used — Feeding time — Things hastily done, badly done — 

 Even condition of the pack proof of good kennel management — 

 Dainty feeders — System of the Author. 



Of all occupations under the sun, we consider that 

 of huntsman to a pack of hounds the most enjoy- 

 able — for a man in that station of life, we ought, 

 perhaps, to have added, supposing he has adopted 

 the profession from natural inclination and love of 

 the sport ; since we have known some who have 

 regarded their office in a business point of view 

 only. We are now, however, only alluding to 

 those whose heart and hand are alike encyaged in 

 the line of life they have chosen from boyhood of 

 their own free will ; andj to succeed, they must 

 possess also intelligence and intellect above the 

 common order. The duties of a huntsman are 

 various, all requiring exercise of mind and energy 

 of action. So long as he has played a second part 

 as whipper-in, he was under authority ; sometimes, 

 it is true, thrown upon his own resources, in cases 

 of emergency, yet generally subservient to the 

 orders and will of his superior in office. With the 

 horn at his saddle-bow, " a change has come o'er 

 the spirit of his dream *' — a dream now realized. 



