226 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



to my men, and we waited for some time to see if any one 

 came out from the cave. No one appeared ; the voices sank 

 gradually, and the fitful and flickering light, which only at in- 

 tervals lighted up the gloom, assured me that the tenants of the 

 cave had consigned themselves to the drowsy arms of IMorpheus 

 for the remainder of the night. Our enterprise was thus brought 

 to a successful issue without hard blows or broken heads. Our 

 fox escaped, and great was the indignation of the quarrymen 

 the next morning when they found "the Squire" had out- 

 manoeuvred them. To reconcile them to their disappointment, 

 I sent them a present to drink my health, and a better look-out 

 for themselves the next time. They took it in high good 

 humour, and ever afterwards assisted me in preserving the 

 foxes. 



Were there no receivers there would be no thieves ; but there 

 is often found on the borders of a fox-hunting country some 

 scratch pack of curs, miscalled harriers, which often turn down 

 a bag fox on their high days and holidays, sometimes secretly, 

 but generally openly, in defiance of every law and rule by which 

 real sportsmen should be guided. To affirm that such are or 

 ever will be (in these unlawful aggressions upon the just prero- 

 gative of the master of fox-hounds) countenanced or supported 

 by any real gentleman or true sportsman is a calumny. No 

 gentleman would degrade himself by practices so little accord- 

 ing with those feelings and characteristics which distinguish as 

 plainly his bearing in all relations of life, as the character of a 

 high-bred fox-hound is distinguished from that of a crop-eared 

 Gur. Let each man pursue his own calling, or his own favourite 

 amusement, whether in i^ursuit of a fox, hare, or stag ; but let 

 him not interfere illegally and unfairly with his neighbour's 

 sport. Never let that golden maxim be lost sight of which pre- 

 scribes to all alike — " Do to others as you would they should do 

 unto you." 



To afford no grounds of excuse for any such interlopers, 

 masters of fox-hounds should hunt their country regularly, the 

 bad and the good in succession. A contrary practice will give 

 the disaffected good cause to murmur, and, as a certain con- 

 sequence, foxes will be destroyed either by keepers and farmers, 

 or caught by poachers. He Mdio would keep a country well to- 

 gether must make up his mind to draw both bad coverts and 

 good ones, as systematically as he takes bad and good scenting 

 days, to suit the public convenience, and if he fails to do so, he 

 will assuredly fail in giving general satisfaction or ensuring 

 good sport. When the best part of a country only is regularly 

 hunted, your best foxes will shift their quarters to more distant 



