16 HUNTING THE FOX 



the Kennel in the summer. If he is really fond of 

 Hounds he will want to breed a pack worth looking 

 at on the flags, and it is a great advantage to the 

 Huntsman if his Master will invite the visits and 

 criticisms of various judges and breeders. No one 

 is too old to learn, and a wise Huntsman who can 

 keep his mouth shut and his ears open on these 

 occasions will gather much food for reflection. 



The choice of a whipper-in is in a certain sense 

 less important. Provided he can take care of his 

 horses and has a fair share of the great gift of 

 receptivity, he Mali, as a general rule, become 

 whatever the Huntsman can make him. Some 

 establishments seem to have the art of turning 

 out good men. Others never seem to be able 

 to teach anybody, probably because no definite 

 system is maintained, because blame is given when 

 things go wrong, no praise when things go right, 

 while those in authority are either incompetent or 

 unwilling to give a reasoned explanation of the 

 why and the wherefore of orders. 



Having engaged his servants, the M.F.H. will 

 have to find horses for them to ride. The governing 

 principle is to give them good ones ; this is not 

 only the kindest but the cheapest plan. A high 

 authority has remarked that a good servant will 

 always take care of a good horse. Self-preservation 

 will prompt him to do this, because he will not 

 want to put a safe mount out of action. The same 



