112 HOUND AND HORN 



He is most careful, and tries every yard of the ground. 

 I'm sure he has never missed one. He was once 

 or twice left with a bad start ; but now he's away like 

 a dart with the best of them." 



^' I see you let them alone at a check ? " 



*' Yes ; most decidedly, unless they have tried wide 

 all round and are completely at fault, and then only 

 do I help them if I have positively correct knowledge 

 of his line ; for if they are helped too often they will 

 expect to be helped. Besides that, in this country 

 you can't always get to them on account of wire, or 

 those deep glens, and you must leave them alone ; 

 and in my humble opinion this is what makes these 

 hounds work so hard at a check and hunt so close 

 and determinedly. Each wants to be first to recover 

 the lost line, and acts independently on that account. 

 All I like to do is to turn my horse's head in the 

 direction I wish them to try, and move quietly along. 

 It's no use having them shouted at or rated when 

 they are all doing their level best." 



" Then, what about a mixed pack ? " 



" Well, we've always hunted a mixed pack ; twelve 

 couple at least of dog hounds and five or six of bitches 

 seems to be a useful proportion. Of course, in an 

 open and flying country I'd like an all-bitch pack ; 

 but here the first essential is tongue — without it you'd 

 be looking for hounds all day ; for dog hounds are 

 freer and stronger in this respect. They may not be 

 so quick and handy as their sisters, and you may 

 get a stubborn or ' dour ' one occasionally, but on a 

 cold scenting day, with a twisting, short-running fox, 

 I think they are more reliable ; for their sisters on a 

 cold line might be apt to flash and be more impatient. 



