HORSES AND HOUNDS. 291 



CHAPTER XLIV. 



On bag'-foxes — Scratch packs hunting them — An old fox -hunter convicting a 

 master of harriers of his malpractices — Improving our breed of foxes — 

 Eun with a dark-coloured fox — List of hounds on hunting days — Diai-y — 

 Effects of bathing hounds after hunting. 



I EEMEMBER a bagman being exposed to view by an old fox- 

 hunter (who was up to a dodge or two) in a very adroit manner. 

 Upon the outskirts of a fox-hunting country there lived, and, 

 for aught I know to the contrary, lives there still, the master of 

 a scratch jjack of harriers. He was neither a farmer nor a 

 cattle-dealer, nor a pork butcher, but all these combined to- 

 gether, and a little knowledge of dog-stealing as well, consti- 

 tuted about as recherche a character as could well lay claim to 

 the title of sportsman, which he had the assurance to call him- 

 self. His locale being within two miles of a large city, he was 

 patronized by many dashing blades, ot rather equivocal pre- 

 tensions to the name of gentlemen, and certain professionals of 

 low standing, who, by subscribing a few pounds to support this 

 scratch concern, passed off as hawks among these small birds, 

 when they would not have obtained any notice at all with the 

 fox-hounds. To cater for his patrons' amusement, this worthy 

 master used to obtain foxes from the country of the fox-hounds, 

 which he turned down upon the sly in some out-lying place, 

 pretending of course that he could not ride up to stop his 

 hounds (which was true enough) from running fox. This ex- 

 cuse was always ready when he thought himself likely to get 

 into hot water with any genuine fox-hunter. As, however, there 

 were some outside spinneys, not regular fox coverts, to which 

 fox-hounds seldom or ever went, his occasionally finding and 

 running a fox was thought little of for some time. It was only 

 when the thing became rather more common, and a run or two 

 was put into print, that the suspicions of the master of the fo3f 

 hounds and some of his field were excited, that there were more 

 outlying foxes found by this marauder than the smaU district 

 he laid claim to was likely to afford. 



It was known in well-informed circles that this hare-hunting 



Erofessor was not in the habit of making any wide distinction 

 etween meum and tuum, and a pretty strong hint was given 

 him that if such practices were continued, the limits of his 

 country would be curtailed. The hint had the effect only of 

 making him more cautious, by shifting his scene of action out 

 of the precincts of the fox-hounds. 



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