112 HUNTING THE FOX 



draw — and many more wonderful things than 

 this may happen — those who are nearest the Hounds 

 get the benefit that always accrues to the man 

 on the spot. It is always worth while to begin 

 the day with the expectation that there will be a 

 tearing scent, and that the run of the season is 

 about to take place. It is time enough to talk 

 to friends and leave things to chance after the 

 Hounds have told you that it is a bad scenting 

 day. On arriving at the covert, study the wind 

 and mark in the mind the down-wind corner where 

 the Fox is likely to break ; map out, too, in advance, 

 your dispositions for getting a good start if the 

 expectation is realized. This is not difficult if 

 the covert is small. If it is a woodland, the best 

 thing to do is to try not to let the Huntsman 

 get out of your hearing while he is drawing ; but 

 on no account follow him about or ride in his track 

 now, or indeed at any other time. There is 

 nothing more irritating to a Huntsman than to be 

 conscious that some one is dogging his footsteps. 

 Not only that, the Huntsman should be quite alone 

 when he is drawing, so as to be able to use his 

 ears to the fullest advantage. Another horse 

 clattering, splashing, and champing the bit close 

 behind him, may very easily prevent his hearing 

 the first Hound open when the Fox is unkennelled. 

 The Huntsman indeed should always be given 

 plenty of elbow-room at every phase of the chase. 



