HUNT SERVANTS. 155 



without being seen it is more than probable he will be lost. 

 Certainly it will bring hounds to a long check, and the 

 holloa will have done more harm than good. Whippers-in 

 when sent on down wind, or to the far end of a covert, are verj' 

 fond of sitlmg at the exact point of the angle of a covert. Now 

 this is a great mistake, for if a fox does not actually break there, 

 I believe he generally will go there before breaking to look if 

 he can, if there is anyone to observe him, and most certainly to 

 listen to what is gomg on. Some few foxes are bold and do 

 not care who sees them, but these are rare, and I fancy are 

 strangers out visiting, who, hearing a noise, and, if they have 

 been previously hunted, recognising the voice and the horn of 

 the huntsman, think it time to be off home. 



Foxes know the huntsman's voice as well as hounds do 

 after they have heard it a few times, and the generality of foxes 

 are shy at breaking covert, and hate to be seen. One small 

 child will keep a fox from going, while a regiment of cavalry 

 can't prevent his going back again. I say, therefore, let the 

 whipper-in hide himself as well as he may, where he can com- 

 mand both sides of the angle if possible ; if not on the most 

 likely side, but never at the angle. If anyone follows him, let 

 there be no conveisation. If two or three gentlemen come 

 down, let him (the whipper-in) beg them either to go away or 

 not to talk or smoke. If he is fortunate enough to have hit 

 upon the right spot and to see the fox break away, let him not 

 move or speak till the fox has got through at least two, and 

 much better, three fences ; and if he even then gives him an- 

 other field no harm is done. In the first place, the fox will not 

 turn back into covert ; in the second he will be more likely to 

 go straight, which all sportsmen kaow is better for hounds and 

 pleasanter for those who ride to them. A fox with a good five 

 minutes' start of hounds is much more likely to give a good fine 

 straight run of from six to ten mile points than one on whose 

 very back hounds get away. 



Just one word on the voice, and its use. To a huntsman a 

 fine voice is of the greatest benefit ; it exercises a marvellous 



