270 HUNTING. 



hands of the great goddess Diana, he pursued his way, and lo, 

 within less than a mile, 'The Checquers,' and all things con- 

 venient ! And yet a public-house, one might have thought, 

 would have been within the sphere of that native's geographical 

 knowledge. But indeed the autochthones of those parts are not 

 of a nimble intelligence. Then, besides these considerations, a 

 close familiarity with the country hunted over must obviously 

 be an inestimable advantage to all concerned. From the 

 heroes of the first flight down to the most persistent son of 

 MacAdam such a knowledge is a thing greatly to be desired. 

 To know the safest and easiest, and consequently the quickest, 

 way from field to field ; to know where man has smoothed and 

 where he has increased the intricacies of nature, is not to be 

 despised by the boldest of riders. For though falls will come 

 and must not be shirked, it is clear that he will cross a country 

 quickest who does so with fewest falls. And though there are 

 men happily gifted with an eye for a country such as no fami- 

 liarity will insure to some, yet this sweet and most necessary 

 intimacy is not to be gained by the mere bird of passage. 



Let us call Why te- Melville again to the convenience of hunting 

 from home, as we have called him for the romance. 



We require no large stud, can choose our meets, and, above all, 

 are indifferent to weather. A horse comes out so many times in a 

 season ; if we don't hunt to-day we shall next week. Compare 

 this equable frame of mind with the irritation and impatience of a 

 man who has ten hunters standing at the sign of ' The Hand in 

 Pocket,' while he inhabits the front parlour without his books, 

 deprived of his usual society and occupation, the barometer at set 

 fair, and the atmosphere affording every indication of a six-weeks' 

 frost ! 



It is true that in many of our famous hunting towns there 

 has grown up a little hunting society, which for several reasons, 

 perhaps, inhabits the same quarters, and some members of 

 which have possibly built themselves * lordly pleasure houses,' 

 and thus in a manner become affiliated to the soil. At Melton 

 and at Market Harboro' this is particularly the case. At the 



