BEASTS OF THE CHASE.— BEAGLES. 85 



country the standard may be slightly raised, as in such districts 

 as these the pack will not go so fast on account of the fences 

 or height of the heather, and more stamina is necessary than in 

 a less inclosed country. If the standard is less than this, a 

 strong hare will soon run the pack ' out of scent,' the hounds 

 will tire before half the day is over, and in cold windy weather 

 will be perished if they have to cross water. In very large and 

 slightly fenced fields or over the open downs the standard may 

 be lowered, as in countries of this sort a pack of beagles up to 

 fourteen or fifteen inches would run away from people on foot. 

 It must, on the other hand, be borne in mind that no pack 

 which cannot go faster than men can run will show^ sport and 

 kill their hares, while for the comfort of faint-hearted sports- 

 men it may be recollected that ' poor puss ' comparatively 

 seldom runs straight, and that a good deal of the fun may be 

 generally seen from a neighbouring hill. 



These remarks upon the pace of the pack suggest one 

 precaution which should always be taken, wherever the ' merry 

 beaglers ' enjoy their diversion : one man on horseback should 

 invariably follow ; but it is essential that this person should 

 not be the huntsman, and that he should on no pretence what- 

 ever, except at the request of the master or huntsman, interfere 

 with the pack, unless the hare has entered a fox covert, game 

 preserve, or any tract of country forbidden to the hunt. This 

 horseman should have strict injunctions not to ride to the 

 hounds, but to hover on the outskirts of the line of chase, 

 always leaning to that side which is nearest to the forbidden 

 country, and his duties should be, in the first place, to endeavour 

 to head the hare away from that direction, and if he fail in that, 

 to stop the hounds before they enter such country. 



If this precaution is carefully carried out, much of the fox- 

 hunter's jealousy of beagling will disappear, and it is certain 

 that any landowner or farmer who has forbidden the little 

 jelly-dogs to cross his property will be far sooner reconciled by 

 seeing his veto respected than by any apology offered after the 

 trespass (for such it is) has been committed. 



