294 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



means to lead to success ; and herein lies one great 

 and wide difference between foxhunting and hare- 

 hunting. 



To tell a huntsman to the former that his fox had 

 been seen half-an-hour in advance is tantamount 

 to an almost certain annihilation of his hitherto 

 sanguine hopes of getting again on tolerably good 

 terms with him ; but the harehunter receives no 

 discouragement from news so unwelcome to his 

 brother in scarlet, knowing that when beyond the 

 sound of Bow Bells his game is not still showing 

 him a light pair of heels, but cooling her heavy 

 heels in some sedgy swamp, or beneath the shade of 

 a huge turnip. " The more haste the less speed ^* 

 is the characteristic motto of harehunting ; Vestigia 

 nulla retrorsum that of foxhunting. 



The pursuit of the timid is a very agreeable 

 pastime to men of a certain age or certain fixed 

 habits ; and we quite agree with Beckford that 

 ^^when you make a serious business of it^ you spoil 

 it/^ There is not, and ought not to be, anything 

 serious about it; there is no serious work to be 

 undertaken. A pleasant sociable little group of 

 friends and neighbours meet the master in green at 

 the appointed fixture. They enjoy their little 

 chat; have time to discuss the current news of the 

 parish; exchange perhaps their opinions on the 

 change of administration — always ticklish ground 

 in the country; and then — exchange lights for 

 cigars. 



" Now, gentlemen/-' exclaims the master, disliking 

 tobacco scent, " I think we had better move on. 



