THE PURSUIT OF THE HAKE 225 



part, should endeavour to work with the master of 

 harriers for the sport in general of the countryside. 

 Oftentimes the relations of the master of foxhounds 

 and the master of harriers will be most cordial, and 

 this is as it should be ; but it is not always so, and the 

 subject will stand thrashing out a bit. The hare- 

 hunter must admit that fox-hunting is the premier 

 sport. From its very nature it allows a larger number 

 of people to take part in it, and it is a national insti- 

 tution, to be fostered and supported by all true 

 sportsmen. The master of harriers, therefore, should 

 always be careful not to interfere with the sport of 

 fox-hunting in the slightest. It goes without saying 

 that he should never allow his hounds to run a fox ; 

 and this is also to his own interests, for as no man 

 can serve two masters, so no pack of hounds can with 

 advantage hunt anything but their proper quarry. The 

 two styles of hunting are different, and it cannot be 

 expected that a hound should hunt fox one day and 

 hare another, and do his work as efficiently as if he 

 were kept to the pursuit of one animal, and one only. 

 In the next place, care should be taken not to 

 disturb coverts which foxhounds are going to draw- 

 within the next two or three weeks. If the master 

 has meets in the immediate neighbourhood of regular 

 fox coverts, let him go there as soon as possible after 



Q 



