116 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



trough with the hounds. I had also, when I first commenced 

 keeping fox-hounds, tame rabbits and a hare wliich lived in the 

 kennel with the hounds. I had a great deal of trouble with 

 these hounds, coming, as they did, from several kennels, to pre- 

 vent tbem killing the rabbits, but by my constant attention and 

 watching, they soon found out that they were forbidden fruit, 

 and the rabbits and hounds became friends. Having at that 

 time little to do, I tried many experiments with hounds, and I 

 could make them do almost anything I told them. If any of 

 my readers imagine this was effected by the whip, or harsh 

 means, I beg to undeceive them — no severity was ever_ had re- 

 course to. Others may say it was only waste of time and 

 unnecessary, and that hounds can be made quite steady enough 

 without any such trouble. This I admit ; but my situation at 

 that time was a peculiar one. I had a lot of draft hounds got 

 together from different kennels, with which I had to commence 

 a new country unaccustomed to fox-hounds, and with scarcely 

 a fox in it. 



There were many large game preservers, and one in particu- 

 lar, who had some very fine coverts in the heart of the country. 

 When I called upon him, and asked his permission to draw his 

 coverts for a fox, he appeared astonished at my impudence, and 

 said he was quite sure there was no such animal as a fox there, 

 and he could not allow his pheasants and hares to be driven 

 about and killed by my rough dogs. I told him my hounds 

 were much better bred than he supposed, and were too polite to 

 touch his hares, if requested not to do so. Upon this point he 

 was very incredulous, saying, that although my hounds might 

 not run his hares, they would chop them up if they came in 

 their way. "Well, sir," I said, "I will make an agreement 

 with you, and it is this, that if one hound I bring with me kills 

 a hare, or even snaps at one, I will never ask to draw your 

 coverts again, and you yourself shall be judge." This proposal 

 seemed to tickle his fancy, and he at once agreed to it, think- 

 ing, I have no doubt, that he should get rid of me and the 

 hounds too. A day was fixed for a private rehearsal, and I ac- 

 cordingly made my appearance before his house with about 

 sixteen couples of hounds. The old gentleman (being a grey- 

 hound breeder himself) came down to look them over, seemed 

 pleased with their appearance, and ordered his pony round to 

 accompany me to the scene of action, which was some small 

 coverts with high underwood (always a ticklish place for riot), 

 and literally swarming with hares. I saw, by a quiet smile ex- 

 changed between the master and head-keeper, that they con- 

 eidered this to be the first and last appearance of my hounds 



