78 Modern Dogs. 



sixty sets of galloping hoofs. For in the vital 

 urgency (as accepted, at all events, in the shires) of 

 starting close on your fox, it pays not — nay, is held 

 hardly to be justifiable — to wait for every hound. 

 Such practice, besides involving loss of valuable 

 time, might, perhaps, induce the stragglers to believe 

 that after all there was no hurry, and that next time 

 they can afford to come forth more leisurely still. 

 There is little fear now that, if worth their salt, 

 they will soon reach the front, whatever difficulties 

 they may have to encounter. And herein is 

 evidenced another instance of the drive and courage 

 of a foxhound. 



''Eighteen couples all together — or at least with a 

 front some ten couple broad, the rest in a cluster in 

 close and vociferous attendance — the horn pushed 

 back into its case ; one scream of encouragement 

 and delight from the ruddy, deep-mouthed, hunts- 

 man ; fifty good fellows riding as near abreast of each 

 other as the nature of the country will allow — this is 

 the old picture ; and this is what many a man will 

 tell you has brought him in touch with Paradise. 

 Ah, those sheep have been over the line! Steady, 

 gentleman, steady ! Now you shall see the drive of 

 a foxhound, as we draw rein to give them time and 

 room ; and the huntsman stands mute, with a silence 

 more eloquent than any immature exposition on his 



