HUNT SERVANTS— THEIR DUTIES 215 



to him every time he might use his whip or turn a 

 hound it would be unendurable for both parties. 



In drawing hounds for the next day's hunting, the 

 huntsman will see to it that no sick, sorry, or lame 

 ones, or bitches out of order, are included. From 

 twelve to fifteen couples make a fair hunting number, 

 but where the pack is small, ten or eleven couples will 

 suffice. A hound that is badly lamed or injured 

 during hunting can usually be got to kennels in some 

 passing trap, or it may be even left behind in a stable, 

 comfortably provided for, till next day. Many hunts- 

 men run through their pack the same night, to look 

 them over for cuts, thorns, and other slight injuries. 

 Cases of lameness will, of course, have been noted during 

 the day. It is, however, sometimes too dark in kennels 

 to see properly to extricate thorns and dress cuts, and the 

 huntsman may attend to these matters in the morning. 



In the field the huntsman is perpetually plagued 

 by busybodies, excitable sportsmen, and meddlers, 

 with suggestions as to going to holloas, casting this 

 way or that, and a score of other details, which he, of 

 course, understands far better than any person out. 

 All these things are very distracting and at times very 

 annoying. The level-headed huntsman, however, 

 wiU, for the sake of peace and in the interests of hunt- 

 ing, usually offer a civil reply to such suggestions. 

 He will, at the same time, pay little or no heed to them, 

 but pursue his own plan of hunting in his own way. 

 Occasionally it may happen that a huntsman has been 

 left in covert, or may have had a fall, or been thrown 

 out, and may require information. He will, m such 

 an event, know exactly how and from whom to get 

 the news he requires. Spectators ought always to 

 remember that the more the huntsman is left alone 

 the better will be their sport. 



