RUNS WITH FOOT-HARRIERS 273 



cheery blasts upon his horn. In the far distance we 

 already discern, coming to us as best they can across 

 the marshes, such followers of the Hunt as are any- 

 where within sight or sound. A glorious run, quite 

 in the old-fashioned manner, and worth, surely, a 

 week of a man's — a town-dwelling man's — life ! One 

 hour and twenty-five minutes is the time, and hounds 

 have killed their game practically unaided. We carry 

 back the dead hare to the marsh, and, in presence of the 

 rest of the spectators, complete the final rites. 



In few runs, indeed, is the huntsman's assistance 

 less often tendered. A too eager man might, and 

 probably would, have spoilt all by interfering 

 with the pack just at those two or three critical 

 moments when the hare's clever and devious tactics 

 had caused a check. And here let me offer just one 

 word of advice to quite young huntsmen, especially 

 with a foot-pack. Don't be afraid to trust your 

 hounds. After all, they must know far more about 

 this business of hunting than you or any other biped, 

 even the oldest and most rus^ member of the field. 

 Do remember that they and their ancestors have, from 

 almost immemorial time, been engaged in no other 

 business in the world than the hunting of hare in this 

 manner. Through a thousand generations have their 

 progenitors been bred and selected and crossed, and 

 counter-crossed, with no other object than to give 

 them good noses, and stout limbs, and school them for 

 the chase and for nothing else. Their instincts, their 

 training, their selection fit them, far more than any 

 other creature, certainly far more than the cleverest 

 human hunter that ever raised a hoUoa or blew a horn, 

 to pursue successfully the wonderful problem laid 

 out upon the surface of the earth by probably the most 

 resourceful beast of chase in the world. Do, then, 



s 



