HUNTING FROM LONDON. 279 



gentle pace at which it is expedient for the hunter to travel on 

 his own legs in the anticipation of a long day's work. This, 

 however, is a matter which concerns the man only, and is con- 

 sequently of much less moment. What does concern the horse 

 is the railway journey. On some horses a journey by rail has 

 no more effect than on some human beings. On others it has 

 a most injurious effect, both on their nerves and their temper. 

 It is almost inevitable, too, from the confined space in which 

 the horse is necessarily penned during the journey, that a 

 certain stiffness will be visible when released at its end. If, 

 however, he is a sedate and even-tempered beast, this will pass 

 away soon enough when he breathes the fresh air and stretches 

 his limbs ; and if he is not that, he had better be got rid of 

 quickly, for he will be of little use in this game. It must be 

 remembered, too, that an early start signifies for the horse very 

 much more than for the rider. The process of dressing and 

 feeding means much more for the former than the latter. The 

 rider can be trusted to look after himself in these things ; the 

 horse is dependent on his groom. Who is to insure the latter 

 rising early enough on hunting mornings to have these indis- 

 pensable preliminaries properly performed at the proper time, 

 not huddled hastily over at the last possible moment? Of course, 

 it may be said that if an owner of hunters cannot trust his 

 groom, he had better give up the business of hunting alto- 

 gether. And this, no doubt, is so. But this mode of hunting 

 is an exceptional thing, rather out of the common routine of 

 the stable ; the possibilities of shirking are much increased, and 

 groom's flesh is weak. You may be lucky enough to get one of 

 those pearls who take a pride in their work, men of inexorable 

 conscience and a high sense of duty, who need no master's eye 

 upon them. But you may not ; and at least, this objection 

 must be taken in the balance for and against. 



Then, there is the return journey. Never, if it can possibly be 

 avoided, should you ride your horse straight from the field to the 

 nearest station, and have him put just as he is into a box to 

 catch the first train home. He should first be roughly dressed 



