HORSES AND HOUNDS. 211 



of the hill, as far as I could see, a good mile or two in advance, 

 and I got up in order about No. 12. My young friend on the 

 thorough-bred was before me, but he had completely beaten his 

 poor mare, which never came out again. The two tirst up were 

 light weights, on thorough-bred horses also. We stood for half 

 an hour, I think, on the summit of the hill, watching the arrival 

 of the field, who came flocking in gradually, in various plight 

 and humour. The distance we had run was computed at abuut 

 five miles, and the time occupied in performing it, by the time 

 keepers, twelve minides. All admitted (and there were some 

 jealous ones out) that it was the fastest thing they had ever 

 witnessed. 



The fox we had killed was the identical old gentleman whom 

 we had given such a dusting to two years before ; and he was 

 caught on the point of the hill which he had run over on that 

 occasion, when saving his life in the rabbit pipe. Even in this 

 short skurry many had so efiectually blown and harassed tlieir 

 horses, that they declined any further exliibition on that day, 

 and went home. 



We were more than twenty miles from the kennel ; but^ 

 having a large field out, I determined to give them another rat- 

 tler, if I could. The fox from which the hounds had been 

 stopped in the morning, I calculated upon meeting with again, 

 neither was I disapi)ointed. Following upon the line which I 

 considered he had taken, we came down upon liim in a small fir 

 plantation, just on the verge of the downs, and race No. 2 com- 

 menced in right good earnest. The ground, however, was more 

 diflacult for horses, and the hounds had it pretty much their own 

 way, as before, running up and down and round the hill for 

 about fifteen minutes, when they finished this fox also off-hand. 



Eunning over open downs is all very well as a variety. It 

 shows also the speed of the hounds ; but for sport give me a vale 

 country, with variety of ground, where the good quality of a 

 pack of hounds may be seen to more advantage. A good wood- 

 land day is, in my estimation, far preferable to the fastest 

 skurry over naked turf. In one case hounds have only to go as 

 fast as their legs can cany them ; in the other, their noses and ' 

 stanchness have the severest trial. Although in the first part 

 of this chapter I have recommended short days and short work 

 to a pack of hounds out of blood, yet with hounds in good heart 

 and condition great liberties may be taken, and the day ought 

 never to be too long. No pack of hounds ever did harder work 

 or travelled longer distances than my own ; but then they were 

 of my own breeding, selected with care from the very best 

 bloodj which was al\^'ays the first point of consideration with 



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