A HOUND HAVER in 



season, anyhow) ; every bit of cover seems to hold him, 

 and they have no trouble to find him. It's mostly 

 a case of ' Hooi in there ! ' and the fox goes off at the 

 farther end, so that the careful drawers and triers 

 don't get a good start. Ruffian and Royal, for in- 

 stance, on some days, if they think there is a fox in 

 a strip of plantation say, I've seen them put their 

 noses up and race through it in a straight line." 



'' Do you like to get away with a few hounds close 

 behind a fox ? " 



'' Yes ; I generally go. Though I don't like it, least 

 of all from a close thick whin, because the honest hard- 

 working hounds that have shoved into the thickest 

 parts are at a disadvantage in the matter of a start, 

 and the skirting hounds get away on better terms. 

 But I don't believe in waiting for hounds to come 

 out. If you wait for them, they expect to be w^aited 

 for, and become apt to dwell ; whereas once left 

 behind out of the fun and having to gallop hard to 

 catch up, they take jolly good care not to hang back 

 and be left behind again." 



** But don't it disgust them and make them lose 

 interest in trying to find ? " 



^' No ; I don't believe it. They are all mad keen 

 to find him and run in chase, and the sooner it comes 

 to that the better. Then, in this countr}^, foxes find 

 themselves so often, and often lie out and rise from 

 the plough or the rough ground." 



*' I suppose some are better finders than others ? " 



'* Yes. There's gallant little Woodman, my favourite 

 if I have one, he has the knack and has found more 

 foxes by himself than any other. He seems to know 

 where they are lying and goes straight to the spot. 



