THE PURSUIT OF THE HAKE 



all, so that it is very necessary for a huntsman not to 

 lose sight of his pack more than he can possibly 

 avoid. 



After the hare has been started and the run 

 begun, the next thing that usually happens is the first 

 check, which will probably occur after a few fields 

 have been crossed. A hare will, as a rule, go straight 

 on for a mile or so, and then make a sharp double, 

 going off to the right or left. Hounds are particularly 

 liable to overrun the scent at this period of the chase, 

 for they are full of dash and go, have been excited by 

 a view, and very likely the keenest riders are a little 

 too close to them, and push them on. If the 

 huntsman knows the country and the run of the hares, 

 he will usually have a pretty good idea of how to put 

 things right at the first check, that is to say, if the 

 hounds' own cast fails to recover the line. They 

 should always be allowed to make their own cast first, 

 for if picked up and cast by their huntsman directly a 

 check occurs, they will very soon get into the habit 

 of waiting to be shown where to go, instead of trying 

 for themselves. If hounds fail 1^ hit off the line by 

 their own efforts, the huntsman should then cast them 

 to the right or left, and inclining backwards, as his 

 previous experience has taught him what the run of 

 the hare is likely to be ; and this done, we will sup- 



