50 HUNTING THE FOX 



Now this proposition contains the kernel of the 

 true secret of hunting Hounds, which is always 

 to endeavour to let the Hounds do everything for 

 themselves, and even when help is actually given, 

 to give it in such a manner that they do not know 

 they are being helped, and think they are acting 

 on their own initiative. This is why all the great 

 master minds agree that Hounds, when in a diffi- 

 culty, should never be meddled w^ith except as a 

 very last resort. Now in order to carry this idea 

 into practice it cannot be too often repeated that 

 the principal part of the technique of the Huntsman 

 should be to keep his Hounds always well in front 

 of him, where he can influence them by a half- 

 turn of his horse's head, and keep their noses down, 

 whereas, once he gets in front of them, he may 

 require two or more men with whips to drive them 

 after him with their noses in the air. The acquisi- 

 tion of this art requires some cultivation, and may 

 be helped by remembering that the Huntsman 

 must regulate his pace by the pace of the Hounds. 

 If he does not wish them to get behind his horse, 

 it seems a simple common-sense rule never to place 

 himself in front of them. Yet many people seem 

 to forget that on a bad scenting day Hounds will 

 go slowly, and that on a good scenting day they 

 will go quickly, and think that the Huntsman can 

 enliven the proceedings on a poor scent by getting 

 ahead of his Hounds and setting the pace himself. 



