THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 393 



every time they go into the shed to be fed, &c. This last 

 should be a single rail. When they are perfect at this, 

 which they will be in the course of a month, let a ditch 

 be digged, with the earth thrown up for a bank, instead 

 of the rail, or by the side of it, which rail should be made 

 higher, to prevent his preferring it to the ditch. They will 

 at first walk into the ditch, then get their forelegs on 

 the bank, and the hinder legs on the other side of the 

 ditch ; but, in the course of a day or two, they will 

 quietly jump on the bank. After being perfect in this, 

 another ditch is cut on the other side of the bank, and 

 they will jump on and off, in a few days, as well as any 

 hunter. 



" The same eminent sportsman has given a useful hint 

 on riding to hounds, which particularly applies to your 

 country. ' In the grass countries,' he says, ' where the 

 fences consist of live quicks and thorns, you will do well 

 to notice, when a hedge is cut, which way it is laid down 

 to the top, and put your horse at it obliquely, with his 

 head from the root of the thorn, and the top of the thorn 

 being weak will give way to the horse's legs ; but if he 

 goes straight against it, he stands a good chance of a fall ; 

 and if he goes obliquely, on the contrary plan, he reduces 

 his fall to a certainty, should the horse not clear any 

 strong plasher which rises when the horse's knees are 

 under it, but not so the other way.' 



" Take the advice of an old sportsman, and do not 

 trespass too far on the willing powers of your horses. 

 Rather than insist upon their coming home, when showing 

 evident signs of distress, let them remain at some village 

 for the night, leaving a whipper - in in attendance. 

 Hundreds of good hunters have been destroyed by the 

 neglect of this mere act of humanity towards exhausted 

 nature in a noble and willing animal. 



" On the subject of scent, 1 shall say nothing at present. 

 Few subjects ever excited more speculation, or the exercise 

 of more reasoning theory, than the one in question ; but, 

 like the peasant of the Alps, who looked abroad for 

 happiness, we do not appear to have acquired anything 

 satisfactory by the search. Harsh, drying winds, or im- 

 pending storms, appear to be the greatest obstacles to 

 hounds working, but in the face of all other apparently 

 unfavourable circumstances, brilliant runs have been 

 experienced. Of its fleeting nature, perhaps the most 



