HUNTING THE FOX 68 



not think the fox is gone. Thus, when at a check, 

 and the pack have made their own swing, he then 

 holds them round to the right or left, whichever is 

 most up wind ; consequently this side would have 

 been the most unlikely ; for they probably would 

 not have checked at first had it been right, owing 

 to its being rather up wind, when, if it does happen 

 to be right, they hit it off directly, so that it takes 

 scarcely a minute to hold them round back, behind 

 the spot where they checked, about a hundred 

 yards or so. He then turns and takes a little 

 wider circle back, to the left the same distance, 

 till he reaches, or nearly so, the line he came to 

 behind the check at first. Now having ascertained 

 for certain that his fox is not gone back, or short 

 to the right or left, he can with confidence begin 

 a wider cast than he would have ventured to make 

 otherwise, owing to a fear that the fox had headed 

 back, or to the right or left. The wide cast he 

 commences on the left from behind, progressing, 

 according to his judgement, and selecting the best 

 scenting ground forward, beyond any fallow or 

 bad scenting ground. As he now knows that the 

 fox must be gone on, this cast is continued all 

 round in front, and to the right, till he again reaches 

 the line behind ; he then takes a wider cast either 

 way, and is guided by circumstances : but nineteen 

 times out of twenty this last is not required, except 

 the fox is headed some distance back, and the 



