394 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



remarkable instance was related to me by a brother 

 master of hounds, on whose veracity I can depend. He 

 lost his fox at eleven o'clock, A.M. At two o'clock, P.M., 

 he passed the place on his road home, and was told that 

 his fox had passed a certain gateway. 



" ' Impossible,' said his huntsman, ' for we tried that 

 point.' 



" ' I saw him,' said a man at plough. 



" ' And so did I,' added his fellow-servant. 



" Sure enough the scent was there, and spoken to by 

 half the pack, although too weak to carry on the chase 

 beyond the next field. After this, who can speculate on 

 the certainty or uncertainty of scent ? 



" As regards the strength of your establishment, it ma}' 

 be considered presumptuous my dictating to you on that 

 point ; but let me recommend you to have an eye to 

 moderation in your kennel and stable. I consider four 

 days a week as much as any man should hunt hounds, 

 and it is also the best arrangement as regards his kennel, 

 inasmuch as he then divides it into packs which, for the 

 most part, work together. By thus becoming acquainted 

 with each other, they work steadier and better, and 

 occasion the death instead of the loss of many a stout fox. 

 Seventy couples of good working hounds will suffice ; and, 

 unless some unforeseen, untoward circumstances arise, you 

 will never have occasion to add to this amount. Of horses 

 I would allow you quite a full complement ; first, on the 

 score of your country, which requires a strong stable ; 

 secondly, because it also requires that things should be 

 done in a first-rate style. I should say, then, that you 

 should have fourteen horses for your own riding, and 

 twelve for the use of your whippers-in. Let the latter be 

 horses of power, but with sufficient breeding for your 

 country ; strong horses not only last longer than slight 

 ones, but they are not so liable to being lamed at fences 

 by the superior strength of their muscles, and the firmer 

 texture of their skin. As to the mixture or separation of 

 the sexes of the hounds in the field, there are so many 

 opinions on the subject, that I scarcely like to hazard 

 mine. There is an objection against all bitches in the 

 pack in a woodland country, in the inferior power of 

 their tongues ; but that will not operate with you ; and 

 it is contended that, although quicker and readier in their 

 work than dog hounds, they are not so patient in difficul- 



