HORSES AND HOUNDS. 203 



suddenly brouglit to a stand. In nine cases out of ten, tlie fox 

 is then behind them. In this instance the hounds knew he was 

 not forward, and by their looks and manner I was at once 

 decided that he was close to them somewhere. Had a wild 

 huntsman at that time come up, and taken the hounds away to 

 make a cast, nothing more, in all probability, would have been 

 heard or seen of this fox. A good pack of hounds will not 

 throw up as long as the scent is before tliem, but will be trying 

 on, even should difficulties be in their way. My friend Bob used 

 to remark of a fast huntsman, who hunted a neighbouring 

 country to ours, " First came the fox, then the hunts nan, and 

 after him the hounds." This system prevails rather too much 

 in the present day, and the hoinids, instead of playing first 

 fiddle, are considered worthy only to take a subordinate part. 



It is highly desirable for a huntsman to be so well acquainted 

 with his country as to know the run of a fox ; but as long as his 

 hounds can carry on the scent, he has no right to interfere, 

 except in particular cases. In my palmy d:\ys, Avhen I was 

 generally in at the death, I never allowed a fox to be taken from 

 the hounds. The farce of treeing was never resorted to. I 

 think it made the hounds more eager; and first come first served 

 being the order of the day, the tail hounds pressed more for- 

 ward when their game was sinking. This may be considered 

 by many an old-fashioned fancy. It was, however, my usual 

 practice for many years, and my hounds were second to none in 

 their performances during that period, They were expert 

 carvers also. We had only two more clays in Mr. Slowman's 

 country ; one a woodland alfair, when we ran a fox to ground 

 late in the day, after changing and chopping about with half a 

 dozen ; getting him out was impracticable, as he had saved 

 himself in the main earths, which struck me had been opened 

 for that purpose. 



"When a fox has run to ground, many are in a great hurry to 

 take the hounds away; and I have known this carried to so 

 great an extent, that the hounds would at last scarcely mark a 

 fox to ground. Some of the best chases often end in this manner, 

 the disappointment being gTeater to the hounds than to any 

 other party concerned. The least one can do is to allow them a 

 certain time at the earth ; and I think it is of great service to 

 hounds to dig a fox out occasionally, when the place is not a 

 very strong hold. It does not, however, always follow rh a 

 matter of course, that when hounds stop at the mouth of an 

 earth or drain, tliat the fox is within. When heated in the 

 chase foxes will often run up to an earth and turn from it 

 again, unless very severely pressed by the hounds ; they will 

 also enter and come out again. It is, therefore, always the 



