2o6 HARE-HUNTING AND HARRIERS 



never to lift hounds when running. There are often 

 temptations to cut off corners, and to close up more 

 speedily on a sinking hare, but it is the safest and, 

 indeed, the only sportsmanlike policy to let hounds 

 hunt it out themselves. 



Punctuality is the soul of hunting, as it is of most 

 other important affairs of life. The huntsman, there- 

 fore, whether he be professional or amateur, will see 

 to it that his hounds arrive at their meeting-place in 

 good time, yet are not over hurried. To most meets 

 harriers are enabled to go on foot. If they are driven 

 to very distant meets, a long van, open or covered, 

 such as is used by a tradesman for the purpose of his 

 business, makes a very good vehicle. The hounds are 

 best kept in by an arrangement of strong wire netting, 

 or even of calf net, which prevents them from jumping 

 out. Such a van may sometimes be hired for the few 

 occasions when hounds have to be conveyed to the 

 meet. A small pack of harriers is not often possessed 

 of a van of its own. 



It is absolutely necessary that a huntsman shall be 

 of sober habits. He is usually a popular character, 

 and has temptations in the way of drinking, and it is 

 essential that he should have the strength to resist 

 them. And his Master will see to it that his Hunt 

 servants take hounds to the meet and get them to 

 kennels in good time, without loitering. 



Some huntsmen are consumed with the ambition 

 to make a big score of kills during the season. Up to 

 a certain point, keenness for blood is a good thing. 

 In some places that I know of hares are so numerous 

 that it is necessary to keep them down, always, of 

 course, by fair hunting. But excessive keenness to 

 make a record tally of kills is undesirable and ought 

 to be checked. I have known a huntsman so eager 



