HUNTING THE FOX 81 



by being what some people call slow. In the 

 pursuit of the Fox everything depends upon 

 system; and without patience no sound system 

 can be thoroughly carried out. 



To begin with, it is obvious that the cover 

 must be carefully drawn. In an earlier chapter an 

 attempt has been made to explain that a momentary 

 exercise of patience is essential to getting all the 

 Hounds out of covert together when the Fox is 

 holloaed away. Even more important is the period 

 of patience when they throw up their heads at a 

 check. 



But more telling than all is the patient self- 

 control that must be used when the Fox is nearly 

 beaten. And more difficult, because the blood is 

 up and the moment of victory would seem to be 

 at hand. Strange as it may seem, it may some- 

 times be a hindrance rather than a help for some 

 one to catch sight of the beaten Fox a field or two 

 away at the moment when the Hounds are slowly 

 but surely hunting up to him. The temptation 

 to give them a lift is wellnigh irresistible. The 

 Huntsman will have shown the Hounds by his 

 manner that he has got a view, and, by the time 

 he gets them to the place where the Fox was last 

 seen, the Fox will have got through the next fence, 

 or very likely lain down in it. The Hounds will 

 have their heads up expecting to be shown their 

 Fox, and will not readily put them down again. 



