8o Modern Dogs. 



hounds — not of drive, but of nose — not of dash, but 



of patience ; and this is a time when consideration 



on the part of the field is again absolutely essential. 



You would not rush up from either side upon your 



setter when at point. Why, then, try to baffle a 



much more excitable animal, when he, too, is working 



to his best ability, and needs, above all things, not 



to be driven or hurried. Yet, as the pace slackens. 



the rearguard come up, and, if allowed, will of a 



certainty over-run the van, and over-ride the hounds. 



Now is the master wanted — if hounds are to have a 



chance. Then will come out their faculty of nose, 



their instinct of hunting, their patient unravelling of 



a skein to which — nine times out of ten — they hold a 



better clue than can be suggested by the cleverest 



huntsman. Yonder it is, down a wet, chilly furrow ! 



Mark that rogue Ramilies yonder — silent, though 



running hard ! Mark him for the draft, Jim ; or 



hang him, if you like, to-morrow ! Hark forward to 



Prompter, my beauties ! He'll tell you all about it. 



Now we are on the grass again. Now they are 



storming ahead ; and we'll unbutton his waistcoat 



yet. Never mind that holloa, Jim. There are more 



foxes than one running about the country. I told 



you so. They've left it behind. And look at their 



bristles. See old Marigold go to the front. That 



means blood, for a thousand. Ten minutes more, 



