72 HUNTING THE FOX 



hunted Fox will stop to listen, and if he hears 

 nothing will often turn. If he hears his pursuers, 

 either human or animal, he will usually go straight 

 on. At this phase of the run it is of no avail for 

 either whipper-in to get too far ahead for a view. 

 If the Fox keeps fairly straight the Hounds will 

 hunt his line. If he turns right or left, the man 

 who has posted on will very likely be thrown out, 

 and therefore not be available at the very moment 

 when his Huntsman most wants his help to con- 

 centrate on a sinking Fox. The right place on 

 these occasions for the first whipper-in is on a ride, 

 or on the outside of the covert not far away from, 

 and parallel to, the Huntsman. The second 

 whipper-in should be back, and never go on to 

 the next covert or quarter in a woodland until the 

 whole chase is thoroughly well committed to fresh 

 ground, because a sinking Fox, or a Fox who is 

 even beginning to be tired, will so often try to 

 shake off his enemies by turning short back in 

 covert. Then when the Hounds throw up, the 

 timely holloa from the wise man who is looking 

 back is worth anything and has killed many a 

 Fox, while the noses of the Foxes whose lives have 

 been saved by the whole establishment posting 

 forward would cover all the kennel doors in the 

 British Isles. 



