176 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



but without effect. The culprit himself had little hopes, as he 

 had done a great deal of business in a short time, and many- 

 appeared against him on his trial. He proved to be a farmer's 

 servant in our neiglibourhood, who used his master s horse, when 

 he had retired to bed, for this unlawful purpose. 



I have related these stories to show that these were trouble- 

 some times, and there was a necessity some times to take the law 

 into our own hands. Having now, in my last two chapters, got 

 entirely off the line, I purpose in my next to resume the subject 

 of fox-hunting. 



CHAPTER XXVni. 



Difficulties during a fox-chase, and best means of overcoming them — Different 

 behaviour of huntsmen to their hounds — Knowledge of the country 

 essential — Difference between foxes eaidy in the season and after Christ- 

 mas — Eelative speed of fox and fox-hound — The run — Death of the fox 

 — The first check the most critical — Mischief of " going to halloos" — • 

 Consequence of so doing — Difficulties overcome by perseverance — A seen 

 worthy of Landseer. 



Having found our fox and pointed out the proper positions of 

 huntsman and whipper-in, we will endeavour to follow him over 

 the open, and relate the difficulties which often occur in a fox 

 chase, and the best way to meet them. 



As soon as his hounds break covert, it is the place of the 

 huntsman to be with them. He should not be sparing of his 

 horn upon leaving the covert, and this, with a loud cheer or two 

 of " Forward away !" will leave few, if any, stragglers behind. 

 There is, however, a vast difference with huntsmen. To some, 

 who are fond of and cheerful with their hounds, the pack will 

 fly like lightning ; with others, who have a dull, monotonous 

 manner with them, the reverse will be the case. It has been said 

 by Beckford, that when the scent is good, a huntsman cannot 

 press on his hounds too much. This has struck me almost as an 

 absurdity, for we all know that with a high scent you cannot 

 press hounds at all. With heads up and sterns down, high-bred 

 fox-hounds will go as fast as their legs can carry them ; but if 

 horses can press upon them, in such a case, they may go, as the 

 Irishman said, faster than their legs can carry them : that is, 

 they will go clean over the scent for half a mile or so. When 

 hounds run hard, as our term is, it is as much as we can do to 

 keep with them, and the less they are interfered with the better; 



