FOX-HUNTING 139 



in the moorland district where grouse-pre- 

 serving or sheep-farming made a find always 

 uncertain and often impossible. Thirteen 

 minutes was the law allowed, and when time 

 was called, hounds were laid on. There is 

 no denying that if pace and distance are the 

 only desiderata, a stout old moor- or cliff-fox, 

 turned down some distance from home, will 

 give a better run than any you are likely to 

 get by legitimate methods in a season. The 

 blot on such a performance is not so much 

 unfairness to the fox, for with thirteen 

 minutes' law a good fox was more than 

 often a match for the hounds, even when 

 aniseed or turpentine had been applied to 

 his pads. He had at least as good a chance 

 of saving his bacon as if he had been found 

 in the whin covert, where many a good fox 



