326 The Hunting Countries of England. 



regarded in tlie westcountry — ten, or eveu twenty- 

 extra miles b}^ tlie way not being taken into account 

 as likely to entail additional fatigue on tlie liorse. 

 And yet that liorse is hunter, hack and lounging- 

 chair for the whole day. It follows that he should 

 have good legs and good middle piece, with sufficient 

 breeding to bring him round quickly after such a 

 day's work as he is called upon to undergo. For the 

 rest, it is unnecessary to enumerate any long list of 

 essential virtues. It will be sufficient to say — Get as 

 much as you can in a small frame, and for as little 

 money as possible. As for the rider — if it is neces- 

 sary for him to choose a pilot with the Dulverton and 

 the Stars of the West, it is ten times more needful 

 here, where you can seldom move half a mile except 

 under the guidance of one who knows each deep cut 

 winding lane, each farmroad, and the points from 

 which some portions of the deep tortuous valleys lie 

 open to the view. So led by the hand, you may often 

 gaze down like the eagle from its eyrie, and mark all 

 the stirring panorama beneath, follow the fox as he 

 winds his way round the hillsides and stops now and 

 again to listen fearfully to the music, which comes 

 welling up so pleasantly to your ears. Thus placidly 

 you may watch each busy member of the pack as he 

 works upon the line — and thus you may, no doubt, 

 take in the whole performance more completely than 

 in the hurry-scurry of riding in hard accompanying 

 pursuit. Reasoning in this way, and content with 

 this view, you may find much sterling enjoyment in 

 such a foxhunt. The fox — or his death — is the 

 object j the hound is the subject ; and the horse is 



