HUNTING THE FOX 27 



if they happen to do so at such a distance that the 

 cry may not be easily heard. The exuberance of 

 the preceding gallop begets much talk at a check. 

 However regrettable this may be, it is not un- 

 natural ; and on every count the Field should never 

 be given a reasonable excuse for saying that the 

 Huntsman has slipped them. 



In approaching a covert to find a Fox, it is wise 

 to draw the woodlands up wind so as to get a good 

 start with him, while the small coverts should be 

 drawn down wind, so as to give the Fox a good 

 chance of getting on his legs in time to avoid being 

 chopped. But in both cases the last half-mile 

 at least should be covered at a walk, so as to put 

 the Hounds into covert with their mouths shut and 

 to allow the rear of the column to close up. If 

 this rule is not carefully followed the Hounds will 

 not draw well, while the straggling horsemen 

 become distributed all over the country, and may 

 very likely head the Fox by trying to make up for 

 lost time and to get a start by riding on the down- 

 wind side of the covert. In the absence of military 

 discipline it is remarkable how the tail of a Field 

 of two hundred people will lengthen out, even if 

 the Hounds are only travelling on the road at the 

 rate of six or seven miles an hour. By walking for 

 the last half-mile or more before getting to the 

 covert-side, the M.F.H. will give himself a chance 

 of collecting his Field. Sometimes circumstances 



