26 HUNTING THE FOX 



It would seem, therefore, that the Master's 

 duty of controlling the Field will depend to a great 

 degree upon the technique of his Huntsman. He 

 can also make things immeasurably easier for him- 

 self if he can prevail upon his Field to give him 

 precedence, if he is there in time to claim it, when- 

 ever Hounds are not running. If he is in front he 

 can be as quiet and as powerful as the policeman 

 regulating the traffic outside the Mansion House. 

 But if even one lady or gentleman get in front of 

 him, his power to set the pace is gone ; he is, then, 

 either obliged to raise his voice with the risk of 

 getting the Hounds' heads up and spoihng the run, 

 or else he has to race for the lead and set the whole 

 cavalcade cantering and competing at the very 

 moment when a sober pace should be the order of 

 the day. It is a mistake to hold up the Field at 

 a gate or in a road for a moment longer than is 

 absolutely necessary. The more eager spirits will 

 tend to work round on the flanks and get out of 

 hand. The ideal state of things to aim at is the 

 creation of a feeling of confidence that no one will 

 lose his start by conforming to the pace and direc- 

 tion of the M.F.H. when Hounds are at fault. 

 Here again the Huntsman can help. If the short 

 circle already described has failed and he is making 

 a wider circle down wind, he should always let 

 his Master and the Field know by voice or horn 

 when Hounds have hit off the scent again, that is, 



