SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 351 



CHAPTER XLI. 



The four-mile race — Danger of crossing old trackways — George Tracy 

 disabled — A lucky fall — The pace that kills — Ups and downs — 

 The squire's joy on seeing his hounds beat the field — Who-hoop! 



In the good old times, long before the birth of 

 MacAdam, packhorses and carts of rude construc- 

 tion were generally used to convey goods from one 

 town to another, across moors and down lands ; and 

 even to this day some of these trackways still remain 

 to give evidence of the use to which they were for- 

 merly assigned. These ancient highways were not 

 restricted, as in later times, to so many feet or yards 

 for their lawful boundary, beyond which no man 

 might venture to trespass by hoof or wheel without 

 subjecting himself to a casus belli, or law process. 

 It was not the fashion then to fill up ruts with 

 broken stones; and, in consequence, when the 

 ground became miry in riding over, deviations were 

 made right or left to go upon firmer turf. Since the 

 increasing ardour for cultivation, there are few of 

 these ancient landmarks remaining in the present 

 day, except in very isolated districts ; but where they 

 are yet to be met with and encountered, the stiffest 

 country is not more prolific of falls than crossing 

 these blind horse-traps. "Were the width of only one 

 or two cart tracks to be covered, a good rider might 

 accomplish it with a jump or two, without being 

 brought into trouble; but a dozen of deep ruts 



