CHAPTER VIII 



The importance of technique — The exercise of patience — 

 The love of Foxhounds. 



In the foregoing chapters some suggestions have 

 been offered as to how the Huntsman should act at 

 various phases of the run. Every one who knows 

 anything about Fox-hunting will say with truth 

 that the exact application of the teachings of 

 science cannot always be carried out in the hunting- 

 field, any more than a Cavalry operation can on 

 all occasions, even on peace manoeuvres, minutely 

 follow the drill-book. Yet in either case ignorance 

 or neglect of certain rules will generally bring its 

 own punishment in the long run. Although on 

 occasion these rules have to be thrown to the winds, 

 the successful Huntsman will always have them 

 in his mind and apply them nine times out of ten. 

 On the tenth occasion his very knowledge of the 

 rules of his art may give him the privilege and the 

 power of attempting the brilliant coup. Some 

 people would seem to think that the true Hunts- 

 man does everything by the light of nature. This 



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