SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 385 



condition. In course, all hounds enjoy a scent, 

 that^s natural ; but I rather think they like catching 

 their game quite as well as hunting it.^' 



^' YeSj AYill, that^s true enough ; changing scents 

 is the greatest of all our drawbacks.''^ 



" It is so, squire ; we must put up with the 

 weather, chop and change as it may, like other folk j 

 but to have hounds holloa'd on to a fresh fox when 

 they are just on the point of catching the tired one, 

 after a hard chase, is what I calls a very hard case." 



" There will be a harder case to-morrow, I think — 

 a precious hard frost, and no hunting at all for a 

 month, perhaps." 



" A fortnight^s shut-up wouldn^t do us any harm, 

 squire, as we have had a pretty good share of work 

 this season, and that^s about the lion's share in 

 comparison with our neighbours. But, talking of 

 frost, I dare say you have seen a capital scent in a 

 white one, whilst it was white, but just the reverse 

 or none at all when it were going oflp, and the 

 vapour like rising from the ^arth. Well, putting 

 this and that together, and all things considered, 

 scent is, after all that can be said about it, a very 

 ticklish subject to handle, like a live fox; still I pins 

 my faith upon the /2air." 



" Right, quite right. Will, it does all come from 

 the hair : here our roads cross, so good night." 



c c 



