202 HORSES Amy HOUNDS. 



began drawing, my friend and self being the only persons privy 

 to the transaction. 



The wood into which the fox was turned was a small one, so 

 that a fox could not break unseen from any part of it. I went 

 into the covert with the hounds, which was my general practice, 

 and began drawing. The wood was quickly traversed, and 

 every corner tried — one tongue only was heard of a young 

 hound, who was rather a notorious offender, but not another 

 hound would join him. There was the fox — he was literally 

 among the pack, where I saw him myself — but hunt him they 

 would not ; the old hounds came away disgusted. The fox 

 remained for a short time longer, when he broke across a canal, 

 close to the wood, and being headed in that direction, returned 

 again to the covert, a corner of which he threaded, and then 

 broke over the open. The screams and halloos then brought 

 the hounds to the spot, and some of the young ones went off 

 with the scent, but the old hounds would not even then own 

 it — they followed after, but they would not take part in the 

 business. What with the screaming and hallooing, the young 

 hounds went on, and it being a grass vale, soon ran into the 

 fox and killed him, but then they would not eat him ; and one 

 of the old hounds, to show his contempt of the whole affair, 

 turned up his leg against Jim, as if to say, " Take that for your 

 pains." 



I was obliged to make excuses about the fox being mangy, 

 and therefore the hounds did not like him. My friend ex- 

 changed significant glances with me. We had deceived the 

 field, but we could not deceive the hounds. But for the fact of 

 the fox having washed himself twice in the canal, I do not 

 think even the young hounds, notwithstanding the encourage- 

 ment they received, would have run this fox a hundred yards ; 

 so little do gentlemen who hunt to ride know of the real busi- 

 ness going on in the field. As long as hounds go the jjace, they 

 give themselves little trouble what they are running after. That 

 a good sportsman may be of service sometimes to hounds is very 

 true, but it is the best plan to admit of no interference at all by 

 amateurs, and a pack of hounds must be wretched indeed to 

 stand in need of such assistance. Real lovers of the sport may 

 do good in many ways, such as keeping the ground clear of 

 stragglers, where the fox is likely to break, preventing too much 

 noise, giving the hounds time to settle to the scent before the 

 host come clattering on their heels, &c. ; but the less they say 

 to the hounds the better. 



_ Half the checks which occur in a season are caused by men 

 riding too close upon the hounds, and driving them over the 



