114 HUNTING THE FOX 



yards to the right or left rear of the pack, keeping 

 of course on the down-wind side. This is by right 

 the place that should be occupied by and ceded to 

 the Huntsman if he is there to claim it. If he is 

 there no one ought to try to get nearer the Hounds 

 by riding a line inside of that taken by the Hunts- 

 man. It is an offence to get between the Hunts- 

 man and his Hounds as long as he is riding well 

 up to them. Some Huntsmen, indeed, seem 

 themselves to be too fond of riding in the wake 

 of their Hounds. By doing this they are only 

 making their own job the more difficult. The 

 leading Hounds can be more easily watched by the 

 Huntsman if he rides slightly to one flank of them ; 

 but if he rides directly in their line, he will not only 

 tend to drive them beyond the point where the 

 Fox turns, but will also have a string of followers 

 who will aggravate this danger. The ideal state 

 of things is achieved when no one is riding in the 

 wake of the pack, which should be left quite clear 

 of horses for a considerable distance. Therefore, 

 for a follower of the Hounds, the safest place in 

 every sense of the word is well away on the flank. 

 Here there is always plenty of room where he 

 can indulge in that delightful sense of adventure 

 arising from picking his own places at the fences. 

 Some people ride fairly well up to Hounds all their 

 lives, but seem to like a lead whenever they can 

 get it. Most good riders to Hounds will tell you 



