42 HUNTING THE FOX 



using his voice all the time. This method has 

 been here indicated in almost the detail of a drill, 

 because the importance of teaching Hounds to 

 draw properly cannot be overestimated. There 

 is nothing more true in Fox-hunting than the old 

 saying, " A Fox well found is half-killed." Let 

 us see what happens if this system is not carried 

 out. If the Huntsman does not wait for the 

 young Hounds to enter the covert with the old 

 ones, they will follow him round by the gate and 

 not leave his horse's heels until the old Hounds 

 open on a Fox, thus tending to acquire the fatal 

 habit of expecting their Fox to be found for them 

 instead of finding him themselves. If he indeed 

 waits for all his Hounds to get through the fence 

 and then trots away silently, hoping some time or 

 other to meet them in the covert, the puppies will 

 very naturally begin to wonder what has become 

 of him, and will creep out of the covert by the same 

 way they got in and follow on his track, so that 

 soon after he gets inside, instead of finding every 

 Hound busy drawing, he will perhaps find the old 

 ones, who know more about hunting than he does, 

 drawing for their Fox; but will find the young 

 ones looking at his horse's tail, or, worse still, the 

 drawing-party will very likely disturb some riot 

 which may cross the ride in full view of the puppies, 

 who will not be slow to take advantage of the treat, 

 with an effect on their tnoral that will take weeks 



