148 PBECEPT AKD PEACTICE. 



Here are no gorse covers, from whence, if a fox 

 breaks, he is sure to be tally- ho' d. Here you must 

 give an attentive ear to what hounds are doing, for 

 sight will avail you little. Such is Hertfordshire, or 

 at least great part of it ; it is not, however, a bad 

 school for a beginner. Now we come to Essex : this 

 is no country for young sportsmen, or any sportsmen 

 on thorough-breds, to sail away, taking everything 

 flying, and in their swing. Here you will find blind 

 fences that require great patience in man and horse 

 to get over safely. Neither of the countries I have 

 mentioned are at all to my individual taste ; but they 

 are each of them a good school for a beginner." 

 " Or," remarked Pupil, " for a hedge-carpenter." 

 " No, but for an apprentice," replied Mentor : 

 *'and advising you to try them is the reason I said 



*even Mr. 's hacks would not be required, nor in 



either of the counties I have named are such horses 

 wanting. Hounds cannot go the pace they do in 

 flying countries ; not but that possibly the hounds 

 may in themselves be as fast, or nearly so, but the 

 nature of the country stops them—luckily for those 



